La fille du briquetier, 1963

Private Collection, Toronto

Jean LeFébure was one of the youngest artists associated with the Quebec post-war abstract movements. In 1949 he studied at the École de Beaux-Arts under Paul-Émile Borduas. Three years later, at age twenty-two, LeFébure exhibited with Borduas and his contemporaries, including Marcel Barbeau, Jean-Paul Mousseau, Marcelle Ferron and Jean Paul Riopelle. In “Fille du briquetier”, the influence of Borduas’ palette and impasto technique is evident; LeFébure applies thick, overlapping forms in black and white with a palette knife. The rust coloured strokes make reference to the painting’s title, which translates to “daughter of the brickmaker.”