John Lyman spent most of his early career in France and Tunisia, returning to his native Canada only for brief periods. When he settled in Montreal in 1931, Lyman quickly immersed himself in the artistic community, becoming a teacher and an outspoken art critic. He positioned himself in direct opposition to the continued influence of the Group of Seven and championed international modernism. In his paintings and writings, Lyman stressed the importance of form over content and emphasized the need in painting for strong composition, simplified forms and bold use of colour.