Today we ask a question unthinkable for many Canadians: were the Group of Seven painters really that great? Now before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, we’re not defaming these most iconic of Canadian landscape artists. But here’s what we have in mind. 

We’re revisiting the meteoric global rise of these remarkable early 20^th century painters through a modern-day lens — not discounting the greatness of their original work, but asking Canadians to challenge the story we’ve all told ourselves with a bit more nuance and complexity. 

So we thought, who better to explore this modern perspective than an objective outsider who didn’t grow up with these paintings in every classroom, on coasters in your parents’ living room or in gift shops from Vancouver to Halifax? Someone who might pose the questions that we Canadians might not even think to ask.

Award-winning American NPR producer Scott Gurian finds the story on an Ontario road trip that both art lovers and outdoorsy types would relish retracing.