The Yellow Dress, 1906

Peter Ohler Fine Arts Ltd., Vancouver Private Collection

René Boissay, “Clarence Gagnon”, Ottawa, 1988, pages 41-44 Carolyn W. MacHardy, “Clarence Gagnon’s European Etchings: 1905-1909” in RACAR: Canadian Art Review, vol. 11, no.1/2, 1984, page 122

Clarence Gagnon moved into his first studio on rue Falguière in the Montparnasse neighbourhood in Paris shortly after completing his studies at the Académie Julien. The artist had kept in correspondence with William Brymner, his former teacher. In a letter dated 1907, Brymner sent Gagnon a commission, and mentioned to send his greetings to the Irwin sisters, Katherine (Kathryne) and Ethel. Katherine had been a pupil of Brymner’s, and he knew the Montreal family was on holiday in Europe. Gagnon was familiar with the Irwins and had in fact already run in to Katherine at the Académie Julien, who had been living in Paris since 1906. Soon Gagnon was spending all of his time with the Irwin sisters, accompanied by his brother Willford, who was also in Paris. Gagnon went on to join the Irwin family on holiday in Dinard, Brittany. The Irwin sisters made for elegant figure models for Gagnon to sketch and the clear tones of the beach supplied the artist with new painting challenges. According to René Boissay, “It was said that Katryne, who was particularly beautiful, had modelled for Rodin.” Just as the Irwins were set to return to Canada, Katherine and Gagnon became engaged and wed in December of 1907 at the Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris. The newlyweds settled in Paris at Gagnon’s studio, where they led a bohemian lifestyle and Katherine often posed as a model for the artist. The intimate composition of “The Yellow Dress”, with the female figure in a golden evening dress and elegant chignon, likely depicts Gagnon’s first wife, Katherine. Gagnon has captured the figure in a quiet moment, creating a warm atmosphere of light and shadows. Katherine and Gagnon returned to Quebec in 1908, settling in Baie-Saint-Paul. The couple parted company in 1914 and Gagnon married again in 1919, to a young nurse, Lucile Rodier.