Emily Carr’s painting “Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky” was created in 1935 and is considered her first work addressing environmental concerns over clear-cut logging. The painting portrays a tall tree that was rejected for its perceived spindliness and left standing in a clear-cut forest against the feathered shimmering sky. This painting highlights Carr’s anxiety over the threatened landscape, a recurring theme also present in her other works from this period.
Carr’s artwork offers insight into her artistic practice and diverse ways of depicting the landscape. The painter draws from a range of influences, including West Coast Indigenous art and Post-Impressionism, evident through brushstrokes and colors used in her work. Furthermore, Emily Carr was an influential figure advocating for conservationist views during times when logging industries were more interested in profit maximization than environmental concerns.
“Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky” remains relevant to current environmental issues concerning climate change and deforestation. Furthermore, it brings attention to the relationship between humans and nature while celebrating nature’s intrinsic value outside of human use or exploitation. Overall Carr is now recognized as one of Canada’s most important painters from this period who captured both the beauty while highlighting conservation needs with respect to natural environments.
