The Pole Star

Private Collection, Toronto

Franz Johnston’s Canadian landscapes are a reflection of his interest in turn-of-the-century ideals, displaying much more atmospheric and decorative qualities than his fellow Group of Seven members. Unlike the modernist paintings of Thomson and Harris, Johnston’s work evolved toward a more traditional and romantic style, recalling 19th century painters such as Homer Watson. “The Pole Star” is a fine example of the artist’s ability to capture the interplay of light, shadow and colour in Canada’s wilderness. The oil painting demonstrates how Johnston could transform the ordinary to the ornate in depicting houses covered in a blanket of snow below a starry sky on a crisp winter night. Johnston’s romanticization of his subjects continued throughout his career.