Compositionally, the work is complex and surprising. The diagonal cut of the landscape is dramatic, and the hillside is crowded with wildflowers, rocks, and clumps of grasses. The girls’ figures are crisp and clear, but parts of the landscape are indistinct, almost smudgy. Stylistically, this painting is typical of Brymner’s oeuvre in that it refuses any neat labelling. Its carefully modelled figures represent the influence of Brymner’s French academic training, while its outdoor setting reflects Brymner’s commitment to painting en plein air, a practice that he knew was important to many modern French artists. In bringing these different artistic strategies together, Brymner signalled his commitment to innovation—and his refusal to conform to a specific style.   In 1886, Brymner became a full member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and he donated this painting as his diploma work, a required gift that symbolized his new professional status.   This Spotlight is excerpted from William Brymner: Life & Work by Jocelyn Anderson.