Paul-Emile Borduas

Canadian, 1905 - 1960

BiographyPaul Emile Borduas was born in St. Hilaire Quebec in 1905. He apprenticed with well known religious painter Ozias Leduc. He studied in Paris from 1928 to 1930 and was exposed to the advbanced theories that would prompt his mature work(Russell Bingham, Southam Press). He began experimenting with a painting style called "automatism" which drew on the unconscious to creaate spontaneous abstract compositions. His work inspired a group of young artists in Montreal. He published his manifestowhich attacked the sacred cows of Quebec society, especially the most sacred of all, the Catholic Church in 1948. It was to accompany an exhibition by these artists called themselves "Les Automatistes". The manifesto it ignited a sorm of debate. He was fired from his teaching position and eventually moved to Paris in 1955 until his death in 1960. His manifesto marked the beginning of a process of social change in Quebec society. His art is internationally acclaimed and his abstract style was firmly established in Quebec.

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