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Moose by Norval Morrisseau

Artwork by Norval Morrisseau, Moose

Norval Morrisseau
Moose

acrylic on paper
signed in syllabics lower left
28 x 39.5 ins ( 71.1 x 100.3 cms )

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Provenance:
Acquired directly from the artist (circa 1970), Kenora, Ontario
Private Collection, Manitoba
During a stay at the Kenora District Jail (circa 1970), Norval Morrisseau gathered together art supplies and began painting. The consignor of this artwork, a former employee at the jail, recalls watching Morrisseau create “Moose”, the artist discussing his work and meaning behind some of imagery as he worked, relaying that many of the ideas for his paintings originated in his dreams. At the end of Morrisseau's stay at the facility, he gave the finished painting to the consignor, insisting they accept the gift. The generosity and skill of the painter and story-teller became only more apparent when the owner discovered the acclaim of Norval Morrisseau and his work years later.


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Norval Morrisseau
(1931 - 2007) RCA, Order of Canada

HighlightsWatch Artist

Born in 1931 at Sandy Point Reserve, Ontario, Morrisseau was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts since 1970. Norval Morrisseau was the celebrated founder of the Woodland School, which revitalized Anishnabe iconography, traditionally incised on rocks and Midewiwin birchbark scrolls. A self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator, Morrisseau created an innovative vocabulary which was initially criticized in the Native community for its disclosure of traditional spiritual knowledge. His colourful, figurative images delineated with heavy black form lines and x-ray articulations, were characteristically signed with the syllabic spelling of Copper Thunderbird, the name Morrisseau’s grandfather gave him. Morrisseau completed many commissions during his career including the mural for the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1978 and, in 1980, received honourary doctorates from both McGill and McMaster universities. In 1995 Morrisseau was honoured by the Assembly of First Nations.