Alfred Joseph Casson was born in Toronto and spent his childhood in Guelph and Hamilton. He attended art classes and worked as a freelance commercial designer. At the age of 21, Casson was hired as a designer by the commercial art firm Rous and Mann and worked under the guidance of Franklin Carmichael. The young artist soon started taking weekend sketching trips with Carmichael and was introduced to the other members of the Group of Seven. Casson was a fine watercolourist who, together with Franklin Carmichael, and F.H. Brigden founded the Ontario Society of Painters in Water Colour in 1925. The following year, Casson accepted an invitation from Carmichael to join the Group of Seven. Throughout his career, Casson was an enthusiastic spokesperson for the Group's achievements. Casson died in 1992 at the age of 94 and is buried along side other members of the Group of Seven in the cemetery located on the McMichael's grounds.


Casson's love for the Ontario coutryside was rooted in his boyhood that was full of hunting, fishing and scouting.He stated that "What I am today, was established by that early close communion with the out of doors". He learned his trade as a designer in Toronto but spent many weekends in the countryside sketching under the apprenticeship of Franklin Carmichael.Carmichael introduced him to the other members of the Group of Seven and he became a member in 1926.

The fine composition of this piece is representative of Casson's love of colour and balance in his work.His many years in the Ontario woods have given him the connection and understanding to do this scene total justice.