Sold for: $13,750

PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from the Artist by the present Private Collection, Montreal, circa 1990

Betty Goodwin’s oeuvre is known for its evocative imagery and for certain recurring themes. She often explored the subject of absence, as in Chair. Specifically, this compelling piece alludes to desaparecidos—victims of enforced disappearance, primarily in Latin America—symbolized here with the titular empty chair and outlined figure at the top of the work. Sensitive to all aspects of the human condition, Goodwin did not shy away from more difficult subjects, but rather treated them with a touching vulnerability. Subtle yet eloquent, this work showcases her deft handling of pictorial space within a dynamic composition. Her pigments have an evanescent quality to them, a result of applying her colours in diaphanous veils onto a sheet of Mylar. Her energetic and visceral brushwork imbues the work with a sense of urgency. Faint touches of crimson and cyan appear almost transparent, in contrast to the gestural and sketch-like black oil stick lines used for the chair figure. Incredibly powerful and sensitive, Chair resonates with its theme of resilience and humanity.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars