Smokes of September

Frank (Franz) Hans Johnston was a founding member of the Group of Seven, and his early career was deeply intertwined with the group's formation. His artistic journey included working at the Grip Engraving Company alongside future members and participating in the formative box-car trips to Algoma with Lawren Harris, J.E.H. MacDonald, and others. Johnston exhibited in the Group's first exhibition in 1920, contributing significantly to their initial impact, though he ended his official association with the group in 1924 to pursue a less controversial artistic style.

A significant chapter in Johnston's career began in 1920 when he was appointed the principal of the Winnipeg School of Art. During his tenure, which lasted until 1924, he was a prominent figure in the city's cultural life and an active painter. He held major exhibitions in Winnipeg, showcasing his versatility with various mediums and his new focus on the Western Canadian landscape, which was noted for its depiction of the spacious plains, dramatic cloud effects, and glowing sunsets.

Following his time in Winnipeg, Johnston returned to Toronto, where he continued his career in art education and painting. Around 1926, he changed his name to Franz Johnston. He continued to paint the Canadian landscape with great passion, establishing a summer art school in Georgian Bay and later undertaking painting trips to the far north. Despite the evolution of his style and his brief official membership, his role as a founding member of the Group of Seven and his influential period in Winnipeg remain central to his legacy in Canadian art.