Jean Paul Riopelle – The Artist's Materials

This is the first full-length English language study of one of the most important Canadian artists of the 20th century. Jean Paul Riopelle (1923-2002) was one of the most important Canadian artists of the 20th century. He began his career in Montreal in the 1940s, where he played a role in the influential Automatist movement, and then established his reputation in the burgeoning art scene of postwar Paris, where his circle included Andre Breton, Samuel Beckett, and Sam Francis. During his career, Riopelle produced over six thousand works, including more than two thousand paintings. This volume, the second in the "Artist's Materials" series, grew out of a research project of the Canadian Conservation Institute. Initial chapters present an overview of Riopelle's life and situate his work within the context of 20th century art. Subsequent chapters address Riopelle's materials and techniques, focusing on his oil paintings, mixed media works, and conservation issues.