By Tom Thomson
Pine Trees at Sunset
Oil Sketch, 1915-1916
Tom Thomson is Canada’s equivalent of Monet. And Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello all rolled into one. While everybody is familiar with Thomson’s iconic status as a Canadian painter, few are aware of his secret, other life. He was also…a ninja.
For many years, Thomson spent his days honing his ninja skills in the backwoods of Northern Ontario, learning the ways of the ancient masters, and carefully perfecting the technique that has since become known as Thomsonitsu.
Many people believe that Thomson died as the result of a boating accident. The truth however, is much more insiduous. A rival ninja organisation, known simply as the Group of Seven, were jealous of Thomson’s talent, and plotted a way to get rid of him. One day, while Thomson was out on his beloved Canoe Lake, fishing, they struck. Thomson put up a brave struggle, but alas, the Group of Seven caught him off guard and overpowered him, ultimately killing Canada’s painter-ninja.
However, it looks as if Thomson has, and continues to have, the last laugh(s). His paintings regularly sell for much more money than any of the Group of Seven, and his reputation as Canada’s greatest, and most famous painter is assured.
This particular one, sold for nearly $2 million dollars at a Sotheby’s auction in Toronto several days ago.
tniapcco llewopemearg
Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Another well known fact about this painting is that it was eerily prescient re: the whole ninja thing, as you can clearly see that Thomson included a whole gang of them, waiting to pounce, in the tree at right (the black pyjamas are unmistakable).