Something a Little More Recent

I generally tend to enjoy historical works over anything produced in the 20th century; and I certainly gravitate towards pieces which have photographic qualities over more abstract pieces. Jean-Paul Riopelle's works, however, have always managed to capture my interest. His rich palette knife spreads of colour and large canvases engulf the viewer in a type of energy that is unmatched elsewhere.

Jean-Paul Riopelle, Pavane
1954, oil on canvas, 300 cm x 550.2 cm

Riopelle studied at the Ecole des beaux-arts in Montreal, and managed to garner himself international acclaim by the 1940s. The goal for his paintings was not to be purely abstract, but instead to simply explore "free gesture" and to "understand nature". His works are popular with galleries, and can be seen in amost every major institution across the country. For more on Riopelle, you can visit The National Gallery of Canada, riopelle.ca, and The Canadian Encyclopedia.