PROVENANCE
Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York
Acquavella Galleries, New York
Galerie Simon Blais, Montreal
Post-War & Contemporary Art - Galerie Simon Blais, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, May 14, 2020, lot h115
Private Collection, Montreal

LITERATURE
Pierre Schneider, Riopelle, Signes mêlés, Maeght Éditeur, 1972, reproduced page 80
Montréal - Paris - New York, 1929-1994, Galerie Simon Blais, 2006, reproduced page 55
Yseult Riopelle, Jean Paul Riopelle Catalogue Raisonné, Volume 2, 1954-1959, 2004, reproduced page 379, catalogue #1956.013P

EXHIBITED
Galerie Simon Blais, Montreal, Montréal - Paris - New York, 1929-1994, June 7 - July 8, 2006, traveling to Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, New York
Galerie Simon Blais, Montreal, Riopelle, Les années parisiennes, November 25 - February 24, 2017

Jean Paul Riopelle began to work with gouache in 1955. Gouache offered some of the same textural qualities as oil on paper, but with some very different luminous effects and a much more rapid drying time. 1955 also marked the beginning of Riopelle’s relationship with Joan Mitchell. Riopelle openly recognized Mitchell’s influence on his work, particularly with his gouache compositions. Representing a watershed moment, these gouache paintings are thus fundamental in the artist’s oeuvre. The seemingly spontaneous composition uses pure yellow, red, blue, black and white tones. It showcases an effect of slow dissolution, possesses its own feeling of movement and is reminiscent of the magnificent coloured ink works by Riopelle’s great friend, Sam Francis painted in the same year.

This work is accompanied by the certificate of authenticity from Yseult Riopelle.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars

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