Canadian Fine Art Auction

May 25, 2015

LOT 67

Lot 67

YVES GAUCHER

YVES GAUCHER
Lot 67 Details
YVES GAUCHER

GREEN, YELLOW/RED, 1ÈRE VERSION

acrylic on canvas, unframed
signed, titled and dated ‘76 on the reverse
48 ins x 60 ins; 121.9 cms x 152.4 cms

Estimate $20,000-$30,000

Realised: $47,200
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
YVES GAUCHER
  • YVES GAUCHER
Provenance:

Marlborough-Godard, Toronto/Montreal
Private Collection, Toronto

Literature:

Diana Nemiroff, “Geometric Abstraction after 1950,” in Anne Whitelaw, Brian Foss, and Sandra Paikowsky (eds.), The Visual Arts in Canada: The Twentieth Century, Oxford University Press, Don Mills, Ontario, page 217.

Roald Nasgaard, Yves Gaucher, A Fifteen Year Perspective/1968-1973/Une Perspective de Quinze Ans, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 1979, pages 109-111, and page 115, Fig. 17 for Vert-Jaune-Rouge, 1970, 9 feet 6 ins x 16 feet (Collection of the artist), reproduced.

Note:

Gaucher and Molinari are often considered together as their paintings appear to have much in common at first glance. However, unlike Molinari, Gaucher's paintings must be viewed as one single object as opposed to a sequence of visual experiences.

Molinari's stripe paintings are meant to be considered sequentially, to be read from one side to another, each field of colour in relation to the one adjacent. Accordingly, the orientation of stripes arranged horizontally in this work, as opposed to vertically as in so many of Molinari’s paintings, is not whimsy, but compels the viewer to consider the work holistically. 

Prior to 1970, Gaucher worked from drawings which allowed him to scale up his ideas more easily. However, after 1970, Nasgaard writes: "When structure and colour became inextricably linked, drawings were at best an initial step in exploring ideas. There was no predicting how a particular balance of yellow, red and grey at drawing size would work blown up to 9 x 15 feet.”  With respect to his practice, Gaucher will do a number of works using similar colours and even similar ratios, but of different sizes.  

Nasgaard continues: “Gaucher may start at the largest size but his common working procedure is to work up to the final size. Often several sizes in the same series will be worked on simultaneously." At least one other version of this lot exists: a larger version measuring just over 9 x 15 feet.

Nasgaard quotes Gaucher explaining his painting process: "The physicality of working on a big painting, and the scale, is very different from a smaller one. I like to bounce between the big and small, on the same premise basically, just to reassess where the problem is. Sometimes you get carried away with a very large painting and you try to convince yourself that it is working. But as soon as you bring the problem back to the small one you sense that there is something wrong which you have to settle in the small one before going back to the big one, or vice-versa. To work on more than one painting refreshes my head and forces me to keep it open in more than one direction."

In Green, Yellow and Red, Gaucher provides the viewer with what Diana Nemiroff describes as a “contemplative perceptual experience.”

CONDITION DETAILS

For condition information please contact the specialist.

LOT 67
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About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.