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Collecting Canada: Selections from John Hartman’s Photography Collection

John Hartman

Collecting Canada presents historic photographs from the collection of senior regional artist John Hartman. Hartman’s collection comprises over 500 vintage prints documenting the landscape of Canada during a period of rapid westward expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Important collectors of photography have often worked from published accounts of photography’s origins to build a cohesive collection. However, a comprehensive history of Canadian photography has yet to be written. As a result, there isn’t an agreed-upon set of photographs to collect for those interested in this subject. There are giants of Canadian photography: William Notman (Canadian, b. Scotland, 1826-1891) and Alexander Henderson (Canadian, b. Scotland, 1831-1913) are two that are included in this exhibition. Collecting Canada also includes other less well-known photographers of the Canadian landscape, including Edith Watson (American, 1861-1943), Charles Macmunn (Canadian, active ca. 1883-1900) and Jules Ernest Livernois (Canadian, 1851-1933). This intimate presentation demonstrates the vitality of the Canadian photographic scene in the years immediately following Confederation and highlights the important work yet to be done in capturing this history.

Collecting Canada presents historic photographs from the collection of senior regional artist John Hartman. Hartman’s collection comprises over 500 vintage prints documenting the landscape of Canada during a period of rapid westward expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Important collectors of photography have often worked from published accounts of photography’s origins to build a cohesive collection. However, a comprehensive history of Canadian photography has yet to be written. As a result, there isn’t an agreed-upon set of photographs to collect for those interested in this subject. There are giants of Canadian photography: William Notman (Canadian, b. Scotland, 1826-1891) and Alexander Henderson (Canadian, b. Scotland, 1831-1913) are two that are included in this exhibition. Collecting Canada also includes other less well-known photographers of the Canadian landscape, including Edith Watson (American, 1861-1943), Charles Macmunn (Canadian, active ca. 1883-1900) and Jules Ernest Livernois (Canadian, 1851-1933). This intimate presentation demonstrates the vitality of the Canadian photographic scene in the years immediately following Confederation and highlights the important work yet to be done in capturing this history.