Gerfaux, 1956

Oil on canvas

8 1/2 x 13 in
21.6 x 33 cm

This painting is included in the Jean Paul Riopelle Catalogue Raisonné compiled by Yseult Riopelle, Vol 2., (2023 online addendum), illustrated in colour.

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View in a Room

This painting is presently on view at our Toronto gallery

$150,000

Inscriptions

signed, ‘Riopelle’ (lower left); signed, ‘Riopelle’ (verso, centre right); inscribed and circled, ‘23’ (verso, stretcher)

Provenance

Galerie Jacques Dubourg, Paris

Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd., London, England

Walter Klinkhoff Gallery Inc., Montreal, 1977

Private collection, Montreal

Exhibitions

Paris, Galerie Jacques Dubourg, Riopelle: Œuvres récentes, June - July 1956, no. 23, exhibited as gerfaut.

Gerfaux, 1956 is a striking painting, richly painted with generous brush strokes of pure colour. Presumably, the title, Gerfaux, is a tribute to the French artist and designer Lucien Gerfaux, who is best known for metal work in an art deco style and also designed vases, lamps and other objets d'art.

For whatever reason, maybe inspired by his association with Joan Mitchell, 1956 was an inspired year for the artist. Examples of paintings of '56 are in museums in Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, the USA (Washington D.C., Charlotte N.C.) throughout Canada including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Musée national de Beaux arts du Québec, National Gallery of Canada.