Shaman And Turtle
183 cms x 122.5 cms (72 ins x 48.25 ins)
Signed in syllabics lower right
Lot offered for sale by Sothebys, Toronto at the auction event "Important Canadian Art" held on Mon, Nov 28, 2011.
Lot 68
Lot 68
Estimate: CAD $60,000 - $80,000
Realised: CAD $71,500
Realised: CAD $71,500
Lot description - from the online catalogue*
Provenance:
Native Art Gallery, Toronto (purchased directly from the artist in 1990)
Private Collection, Ontario
Literature:
Greg A. Hill, "Norval Morrisseau," National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 2006, preface, unpaginated
Notes:
Norval Morrisseau is one of Canada's most internationally recognizable artists. He was the founder of the 'Woodland School' of painting whose style often depicts x-ray-like representations of people and animals where the figures' inside spirit and outside physical bodies are linked by dark lines which represent mystical or shamanistic energy.
Morrisseau felt his artistic calling from an early age and is quoted as having said; "I am a born artist. Some people are born artists and others are not. This is also the same way with the Indians. I have grown up with many stories and legends of my people and I have made paintings of these legends." Morrisseau was still a child when he became fascinated by shamanism, a practice that would inform his work throughout his lifetime. His artistic development coincided with an explosion in western modern art when artists like Picasso and Pollock developed a keen interest in Aboriginal art and began incorporating aspect of these practices in their work. Morrisseau's deep understanding of First Nations culture combined with his exposure to modern art positioned his work uniquely in that he became the first native artist to successfully incorporate traditional native modes of representation with a modern aesthetic.
Native Art Gallery, Toronto (purchased directly from the artist in 1990)
Private Collection, Ontario
Literature:
Greg A. Hill, "Norval Morrisseau," National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 2006, preface, unpaginated
Notes:
Norval Morrisseau is one of Canada's most internationally recognizable artists. He was the founder of the 'Woodland School' of painting whose style often depicts x-ray-like representations of people and animals where the figures' inside spirit and outside physical bodies are linked by dark lines which represent mystical or shamanistic energy.
Morrisseau felt his artistic calling from an early age and is quoted as having said; "I am a born artist. Some people are born artists and others are not. This is also the same way with the Indians. I have grown up with many stories and legends of my people and I have made paintings of these legends." Morrisseau was still a child when he became fascinated by shamanism, a practice that would inform his work throughout his lifetime. His artistic development coincided with an explosion in western modern art when artists like Picasso and Pollock developed a keen interest in Aboriginal art and began incorporating aspect of these practices in their work. Morrisseau's deep understanding of First Nations culture combined with his exposure to modern art positioned his work uniquely in that he became the first native artist to successfully incorporate traditional native modes of representation with a modern aesthetic.
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 Sothebys auction house for permission to use.
(*) Text and/or Image might be subject matter of Copyright. Check with Sothebys auction house for permission to use.