Description:

Norval Morrisseau, RCA (1931-2007), Anishinaabe (Ojibwe)

OJIBWA FAMILY MOTIF WITH TREE OF KNOWLEDGE, 1991

acrylic on canvas
signed in syllabics lower left; titled and dated to gallery label verso
87 x 54 in — 221 x 137.2 cm

Estimate: $45,000—55,000

    Provenance:
  • Kinsman Robinson Galleries, Toronto, ON
    S.P. Family Collection, Toronto, ON
  • Dimensions:
  • 87 x 54 in — 221 x 137.2 cm
  • Artist Name:
  • Norval Morrisseau, RCA (1931-2007)
  • Medium:
  • acrylic on canvas
  • Notes:
  • Waddington’s is pleased to offer two canvases by Norval Morrisseau from the artist’s early 1990s in this auction: Ojibwa Family Motif with Tree of Knowledge, 1991 (lot 31) and Fish and Fowl Forms - Composition, 1990 (lot 32).

    Paintings by Morrisseau from this period are characterised by new, brighter colours. Already in the mid-1970s Morrisseau was introducing new colours to his paintings, drawing inspiration from his involvement with the spiritual movement Eckankar, and combining this doctrine with the Anishinaabe and Christian beliefs featured in his earlier works. By the early 1990s his signature palette of copper, yellow and blue was fully realised and "conveyed the clarity of vision, lightness, and spirituality that Eckankar espouses."[1]

    Jack Pollock and Lister Sinclair discuss the artist’s bright colour palette and the meaning and intentionality of the blue tones found in his canvases, stating that, “to Morrisseau, blue was often regarded as symbolising spiritual protection, […] the light blue indicating that the artist’s spirit is being guarded by day, whereas the mid blue means that it is being guarded by night. In a sense, these two colours seem to perform for him some of the guardian functions which, he tells us, belong to the totem spirits.”[2]

    Light and dark shades of blue can be found in both Ojibwa Family Motif with Tree of Knowledge and Fish Fowl Forms - Composition. In Ojibwa Family Motif with Tree of Knowledge, Morrisseau achieves a striking sense of balance in this composition by mirroring the shades of blue in the clothing of the family. The Ojibwa family and the transference of knowledge is a recurring theme in Morrisseau's paintings of this period.[3]

    Fish Fowl Forms – Composition brilliantly depicts Morrisseau’s use of lines: a seminal aspect of Morrisseau’s Woodland School of Art style. Often referred to by the artist as lines of communication, these lines form closed loops and united ties between the figures. Morrisseau would also incorporate internal lines to depict the inner structures of animals and humans, which is apparent in the bird and fish figures in this work. Finally, the divided circle is a common motif that Morrisseau used throughout his career and can be seen in paintings as early as the 1950s. Scholar Carmen Robertson refers to the divided circle as the dualities that exist in the artist’s view of the world.[4]

    [1] Art Canada Institute, Norval Morrisseau, Life and Works by Carmen Robertson, Art Canada Institute, accessed 15 April 2024, https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/style-and-technique/.
    [2] Lister Sinclair and Jack Pollock, Art of Norval Morrisseau, (Toronto: Methuen, 1979), 58.
    [3] Norval Morrisseau: Honouring First Nations, (Toronto: Kinsman Robinson Galleries, 1994, Exh. Cat), 8.
    [4] https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/norval-morrisseau/style-and-technique/
  • Condition:
  • Good overall condition. Stretcher mark lower right. Scattered imperfections in media, particularly in top centre.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

The Auctioneers will not undertake packing or shipping. The purchaser must designate and arrange for the services of an independent shipper and be responsible for all shipping and insurance expenses. The Auctioneers will, upon request, provide names of professional packers and shippers but will not be held responsible for the service or have any liability for providing this information. Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping costs of lots offered in this sale may be obtained from:

PICK UP & SHIPPING FROM TORONTO:

When contacting the shippers please have your invoice # and item information ready.

PakShip
Attn: Taurus Chan
Tel: 905.470.6874
416.293.8225
Fax: 905.470.6875
[email protected]
www.pakship.ca

Safer Shipping
Attn: Perry Hehn
Tel: 416.299.3367
Fax: 416.299.9750
[email protected]
www.safershipping.ca

PICK UP & SHIPPING FROM VANCOUVER:

Please note that lots in our Waddington's West auctions are located in Vancouver, B.C. When contacting the shippers please have your invoice # and item information ready.

The UPS Store 424
Tel: 604-559-5446
[email protected]

PakMail
Tel: 604-472-6245
[email protected]
www.pakmailcanada.com

CITES WARNING:
Restrictions exist regarding the import and export of species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). This includes but is not limited to items made of or containing bone (whalebone etc.), ivory, tortoise shell, seal skin, rhinoceros horn and any other animal part and is strictly controlled or forbidden by most countries. Please review your country's laws before bidding on pieces made of or containing these restricted items. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer to inquire about and obtain the proper permits for artwork purchased that may contain restricted materials, if such permit can be obtained. Please contact the department for further assistance. For more information please visit www.cites.org

May 29, 2024 6:00 PM EDT
Toronto, ON, CA

Waddington's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
CA$0 CA$249 CA$10
CA$250 CA$499 CA$25
CA$500 CA$999 CA$50
CA$1,000 CA$1,999 CA$100
CA$2,000 CA$4,999 CA$250
CA$5,000 CA$9,999 CA$500
CA$10,000 CA$19,999 CA$1,000
CA$20,000 CA$49,999 CA$2,000
CA$50,000 CA$99,999 CA$5,000
CA$100,000 CA$299,999 CA$10,000
CA$300,000 CA$999,999 CA$25,000
CA$1,000,000 CA$1,999,999 CA$50,000
CA$2,000,000 CA$2,999,999 CA$100,000
CA$3,000,000 CA$4,999,999 CA$200,000
CA$5,000,000 + CA$300,000