Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Auction
Lot 71:
Gatien Moisan (b. 1946) Le Fruit Defendu, 1991, Monumental Oil on Board with Nude Figure
Description
A monumental oil on board by Gatien Moisan titled Le Fruit Défendu (The Forbidden Fruit), executed in 1991. The composition unfolds across a deeply atmospheric field of blue-green, charcoal, and muted earthen tones, built up through layered paint, incised lines, and textured surface manipulation. Emerging subtly within this abstracted field is the ghostly silhouette of a nude male figure, rendered with restraint and partially subsumed into the surrounding space, lending the work a powerful psychological and symbolic undertone.
At the center of the composition, a framed apple motif – painted in vivid red, yellow, and blue – serves as a visual and conceptual anchor. Smaller circular apple symbols recur vertically within the composition, creating a rhythmic axis that interacts with the obscured human form. The juxtaposition of the vulnerable nude figure and the apple imagery reinforces the thematic implications of the title, evoking notions of temptation, exposure, and existential introspection.
The surface bears deliberate abrasions, scoring, and painterly striations characteristic of Moisan’s working method, enhancing the sense of depth and erosion. The restrained palette, punctuated by the saturated central emblem, heightens the tension between figuration and abstraction that defines the work.
Details
Artist: Gatien Moisan (Canadian, b. 1946)
Title: Le Fruit Defendu
Date: 1991
Medium: Oil on board
Signature: Signed and dated
Image Size: approximately 36 x 58 in. (91.4 x 147.3 cm)
Framed Dimensions: approximately 40 x 62 in. (101.6 x 157.5 cm)
Presentation: Later frame
Condition: Surface wear, abrasions, and incised marks consistent with the artist’s intentional technique; board appears stable. Frame with minor wear.
Catalogue Note
Gatien Moisan is a major figure in Canadian contemporary art, widely recognized for his exploration of symbolic imagery within abstract spatial environments. Since the 1970s, his work has consistently addressed themes of memory, myth, corporeality, and spiritual inquiry through layered surfaces and recurring iconography.
Share this lot:
