Sold for: $16,380

PROVENANCE
A gift from the Artist in Paris in the 1950s to Belle Burke, New York

During the early 1950s, Jean-Paul Riopelle became deeply immersed in the Parisian cultural milieu. Through various exhibitions and his association with dealer Pierre Loeb, Riopelle became connected to other artists working in Paris at the time such as Georges Mathieu, Hans Hartung and Wols, in addition to receiving the continued support of Surrealist leader André Breton. In 1954, his international status was solidified by his first exhibition with the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York and also by his representation at the Venice Biennale. His global exposure continued at the Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil in 1955, which further established him as one of Canada's most important Abstract Expressionists.

The optimism and excitement of the period are captured in lots 19, 20 and 21 through the refreshing palette of blue, yellow and red, which is anchored by the black ink, characteristic of his paperworks from this period. All figurative references were eschewed through the black spidery lines woven between patches of colour, resulting in these organically vital works. The swatches of colour and black also draw a connection to the fragmented mosaic tiles he was creating in his larger paintings. However, unlike those sprawling, dense surfaces, these paperworks leave the surface layer exposed, allowing the colour and ink to breathe across the plane. Produced during his most significant period, these lots are sought-after examples from one of Canada’s most important artists, with arguably the greatest international stature.

These works will be included as addenda in Yseult Riopelle's online catalogue raisonné on the artist's work at http://www.riopelle.ca/.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars