Colouring the Collection: Jack Pine (1940) by Walter J. Phillips

by Shelby Smith

For this instalment of Colouring the Collection we look to Jack Pine (1940) by Walter J. Phillips.

The jack pine is a staple of the rugged Northern landscape.  It can grow almost anywhere, from sandy or shallow soil, to permafrost and rock.  When it grows in these harsher conditions, the tree often grows gnarled and lopsided, giving it a great deal of character.  It is no surprise that the jack pine’s unique beauty has been captured by many Canadian landscape painters, including Tom Thompson and Walter J. Phillips.

The jack pine is known to thrive in the aftermath of forest fires.  This is both a result of its hardiness and the fact that their pinecones only open up to release seeds at very high temperatures—greater than or equal to 50 °C (122 °F).  It is truly a symbol of resilience and adaptability in even the most difficult situations.

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