La Lecture

Henri Leopold Masson (1907–1996, Namur, Belgium) immigrated to Ottawa in 1921 and became a master engraver before devoting himself to painting. Inspired by the Group of Seven, he developed a vivid style applied to landscapes, still lifes, interiors, and townscapes. By the 1940s, he was exhibiting widely across Canada and internationally, gaining recognition as a key figure in mid-20th-century Canadian art. His career combined technical mastery with bold colour and expressive vision.