signed, titled and dated “23 September 1977” on the reverse
36 × 42 × 2 in (91.4 × 106.7 × 5.1 cm)
(including Buyer's Premium)
Private Collection, Montreal
Montreal-born artist Pierre Gauvreau's impact on the cultural legacy of Quebec is significant. Following his service in the Second World War, Gauvreau completed his studies at l'École des beaux-arts. He was among the original signatories of the famous Refus Global manifesto in 1948, along with his brother, poet and writer Claude Gauvreau. Active with Les Automatistes, Gauvreau participated in multiple groundbreaking exhibitions which advanced the cause of abstract art in Canada.
In 1952, Gauvreau made a significant career change, becoming a newsreader for Radio-Canada. Gauvreau continued work in the field of television production for the next few decades. This contributed to a long hiatus from painting, lasting from the early 1960s until the mid-1970s. Gauvreau then returned to painting with a renewed gusto, creating exuberant and innovative works rooted in his earlier experiments with automatism. Ont des oreilles attentives dates from this period, and exudes the artist's vigorous re-engagement with painterly materials. Energetic strokes and dabs fill the entire surface in a flurry. The lively palette is dominated by complementary reds and greens. The painting's poetic title hints at an artistic message sent from the former broadcaster to his audience.
