Artwork for Sale
Gerfaux, 1956
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.