Lot 175: [ CANADIAN ART ] paul-emile BORDUAS (1905-1960) CASCADE VERTICALE signed and dated '1956' oil on canvas 59.7 by 49.5 cm. 23.5 by 19.5 in. In August of 1955 Borduas moved to Paris and was to live there for the remainder of his life. It was in France

[ CANADIAN ART ] paul-emile BORDUAS (1905-1960) CASCADE VERTICALE signed and dated '1956' oil on canvas 59.7 by 49.5 cm. 23.5 by 19.5 in. In August of 1955 Borduas moved to Paris and was to live there for the remainder of his life. It was in France in 1956 that his work underwent significant changes as he furthered his exploration of white pigment until they became, in his words, 'whiter and whiter, more and more 'objective'...' As Francois-Marc Gagnon remarks, 'A change, however, took place shortly after Borduas made this statement - probably in the summer of 1956 - that considerably modified the image of his painting. The white screen of his paintings is torn apart to reveal a black background.' Interestingly, Cascade Verticale seems to mark a specific point within this transitional period - moving away from the earlier totality of white pigment, but not yet using black as a ground or larger shaped fields. By introducing black to the surface and experimenting with colour, this important canvas marks the beginning of Borduas' mature period. PROVENANCE: Arthur Tooth & Sons Ltd., London Acquired directly from the above by Lady d'Avigdor-Goldsmid in 1957 Thence by descent to the present owner ( Private Collection, England) LITERATURE: Francois-Marc Gagnon, Paul- Emile Borduas, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, 1976, p.25