Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Auction
Lot 72:
Gatien Moisan (b. 1946) Le Temps des Cerises, 1991, Large Oil on Board with Nude Figure
Description
A large-scale oil on board by Gatien Moisan titled Le Temps des Cerises (The Time of Cherries), executed in 1991. The composition is dominated by a deep, atmospheric field of emerald green, blue, and charcoal tones, animated by layered brushwork, surface abrasion, and incised linear gestures. Emerging subtly from the painterly ground is the faint yet unmistakable presence of a nude male figure, rendered with restraint and partially absorbed into the surrounding space.
Central to the composition is a vivid red cherry motif, enclosed within a framed rectangular cartouche, echoed by smaller cherry symbols positioned vertically within the pictorial field. These recurring emblems function as both visual anchors and symbolic markers, establishing a rhythmic structure across the surface. The contrast between the saturated red cherries and the subdued, enveloping background heightens the emotional and symbolic charge of the work.
Moisan’s handling of the surface – marked by deliberate scratching, scumbling, and tonal modulation – creates a sense of depth and temporal erosion. The partially obscured human form, paired with the cherry imagery, evokes themes of memory, desire, vulnerability, and the passage of time, reinforcing the poetic resonance suggested by the title.
Details
Artist: Gatien Moisan (Canadian, b. 1946)
Title: Le Temps des Cerises
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 abrasions, incised marks, and textural wear consistent with the artist’s intentional working method; board appears stable. Frame with light wear.
Catalogue Note
Gatien Moisan is a leading figure in Canadian contemporary art, renowned for his synthesis of abstraction, symbolism, and the human form. Since the 1970s, his work has explored themes of corporeality, memory, desire, and existential reflection through layered surfaces and recurring iconographic elements.
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