Who Killed Tom Thomson?

A book written by John Little whose father met Tom Thomson and tried to discover the cause of Tom Thomson’s death

for many years and passed that desire to his son.  It’s a frustrating book because there is still a mystery concerning the facts around his death.  Things could be solved quite easily if the Thomson family were interested and the Government of Ontario would allow it.

One of the facts learned was that the Group of Seven did not include Tom Thomson.  The group was organized in name form “after” he died of drowning or murder or suicide.  He did paint with them at times but they were not famous at all.  It wasn’t till after Tom’s death and the propaganda was started by the art community and his family did the Group of Seven even get recognized at all.  It was him who basically started “Canadian Art” according to the author, the rest became so after his death.

Much money was made by the art community after the family inherited all Tom Thomson’s paintings.  He didn’t receive much for his paintings before nor did he seem to want more either. Tom gave many away for payments of food and supplies or just as a thank you for services rendered.  He was poor but enjoyed his life of the woods and his painting therein.  But after his death, the family knew that if they made his death a good story that the paintings would increase in value…and that’s how it has worked out.

Who Killed Tom Thomson?  Author: John Little.