Les travaux et les jours
196.2 cms x 34.9 cms (77.25 ins x 13.75 ins)
On verso signed and titled on various labels
Lot offered for sale by Heffel, Vancouver at the auction event "Spring 2014 Live auction" held on Wed, May 28, 2014.
Lot 009
Lot 009
Estimate: CAD $20,000 - $30,000
Realised: CAD $47,200
Realised: CAD $47,200
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Private Collection, Montreal
Exhibitions:
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The 78th Annual Spring Exhibition, April 8 - May 7, 1961
Notes:
In 1958 Lise Gervais traveled to Europe and, like many Canadian artists before her, found great inspiration abroad. However, it was the effervescent Post-Automatist decade in Quebec that profoundly shaped Gervais's work. Executed in the early 1960s, the striking Les travaux et les jours is steeped in Paul-Émile Borduas's non-figurative influence, notably through its gestural forms of unblended colour and strong textural landscape. The early 1960s also brought Gervais great recognition and success, and by 1961 she began to participate in many exhibitions, including her first solo show at the Galerie Denyse Delrue in Montreal, as well as in The 78th Annual Spring Exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in which this work was exhibited. Interestingly, Les travaux et les jours translates to Works and Days, the title of a didactic poem written by ancient Greek poet Hesiod around 700 BC. Les travaux et les jours is a fire of pure colour, the swathes of mustard, red and black burning up the tall canvas with great energy and vigour, making it an exciting example from Gervais's most inspired period.
Private Collection, Montreal
Exhibitions:
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The 78th Annual Spring Exhibition, April 8 - May 7, 1961
Notes:
In 1958 Lise Gervais traveled to Europe and, like many Canadian artists before her, found great inspiration abroad. However, it was the effervescent Post-Automatist decade in Quebec that profoundly shaped Gervais's work. Executed in the early 1960s, the striking Les travaux et les jours is steeped in Paul-Émile Borduas's non-figurative influence, notably through its gestural forms of unblended colour and strong textural landscape. The early 1960s also brought Gervais great recognition and success, and by 1961 she began to participate in many exhibitions, including her first solo show at the Galerie Denyse Delrue in Montreal, as well as in The 78th Annual Spring Exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, in which this work was exhibited. Interestingly, Les travaux et les jours translates to Works and Days, the title of a didactic poem written by ancient Greek poet Hesiod around 700 BC. Les travaux et les jours is a fire of pure colour, the swathes of mustard, red and black burning up the tall canvas with great energy and vigour, making it an exciting example from Gervais's most inspired period.
Most realised prices include the Buyer's Premium of 18-25%, but not the HST/GST Tax.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Heffel auction house for permission to use.