Tom Thomson is one of Canada's most famous and beloved artists. His vibrant landscape paintings helped define a young nation in the early 20th century and have become iconic symbols of Canada.

On July 8 1917, Thomson died mysteriously on Canoe Lake, just as he was reaching ascendancy in his career. Why does Thomson's life and art fascinate us still? What draws thousands of people each year to his cairn on Canoe Lake and propels his oil sketches into the stratosphere of the Canadian art market?—White Pine Pictures

How did a commercial illustrator, whose favourite pastime was fishing and reading poetry, find within himself the passion and confidence to portray Ontario's lakes, rivers, trees and skies with glorious colour and energy as no one had before? What is it about Thomson's life, art and death that haunt us still; that draw thousands of people each year to his cairn in Canoe Lake, and propel his little oil sketches to the stratosphere of the Canadian art market?—Anonymous