signed and dated 1965 lower right; titled on gallery labels and inscribed "83-90" on the stretcher on the reverse
20 × 20 in (50.8 × 50.8 cm)
(including Buyer's Premium)
Gerard Gorce, Montreal
Waddington & Gorce Inc., Toronto
Parisian Laundry, Montreal
Private Collection
By the early 1960s, Lise Gervais found herself caught in the tension between rival art movements: the Automatistes and the Plasticiens. After aligning herself with the circle of Paul-Émile Borduas, Gervais emerged as a significant contributor to the post-Automatiste movement, alongside fellow artists Rita Letendre and Marcella Maltais. Painted in 1965, Abstraction en bleu, jaune et vert was created during a time when Gervais had returned to teaching at the École des beaux-arts, Concordia University and L’Université du Québec in Montreal.
The textured and colourful surface of this painting vividly captures the vibrant energy with which the artist infused her artwork. Gervais's personal interest in texture and materiality results in expressive and instinctive brushwork, with bold swatches of taupe, black, and teal popping against a crisp white backdrop. These colours, applied with precision, carry a dynamic and instinctive touch, creating a captivating composition that showcases Gervais's artistic expertise.
