Author Description

Ozias Leduc (1864-1955) was one of the most influential Quebec painters of his day, with a profound effect on younger artists such as Paul-Émile Borduas. Leduc found most of his projects in church decoration, some of which took him years to complete and are still celebrated today. His early work however remains largely unknown. This publication documents 15 still lifes, the majority executed between 1887 and 1900. The curatorial essay highlights the exploratory character of the paintings, focusing on questions of fundamental importance to Leduc: what is art, what are its theories, how does it operate? A fascinating look into the development of a young artist in the 19th century. Laurier Lacroix is Professor Emeritus at Université du Québec à Montréal.00Exhibition: Musée d'art de Joliette, Canada (03.06.-17.09.2017).