Sold for: $157,250

PROVENANCE
Galerie Jacques Dubourg, Paris
Arthur Tooth & Sons, London
By descent to the present Private Collection, Toronto

LITERATURE
Jean Paul Riopelle: Recent Paintings, Arthur Tooth & Sons, 1963, reproduced

EXHIBITED
Arthur Tooth & Sons, London, Jean Paul Riopelle: Recent Paintings, 1963, catalogue #10

As of 1957, Jean Paul Riopelle’s dense strokes that were typical of his mosaic period became elongated and looser. Chante mon oiseau si bavard is an impeccable example of this. Painted in 1962, this work is intensely dynamic. The pictorial space is meticulously organized, yet the gesture remains intuitive and unrestrained. As well as using his quintessential palette knife work, the artist integrates a variety of shapes, such as cedilla-like black lines and squares in the upper central area created by the longer drags of the palette knife. Riopelle ploughs through layers of paint with his thin metal blade to create an organic and coherent whole. Rich, saturated colors undulate over the surface of the canvas. The left-hand side is dominated by warm tones, such as bright orange, crimson and pale pink. On the right side, shades of blue and sea-green melt into chocolate browns and pale yellows. These two contrasting halves compel our eyes to move from left to right. Bustling with movement and energy, this painting captures Riopelle’s expressive gesture and complete mastery of his medium.

This work is included as an addendum in Yseult Riopelle's online catalogue raisonné on the artist's work at http://www.riopelle.ca.

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