Jean-Paul Riopelle

Gimpel Fils, Ltd., London
Acquired by the present owner from the above in March 1960

This work is in very good condition overall. The canvas is unlined. The canvas has a very richly impastoed surface. There are a few unobtrusive losses to the peaks of the impasto. There is scattered fine craquelure noted, particularly in the deep red pigments, with some associated extremely minor pigment losses. Some areas of craquelure have been stabilized. There is a small localized accretion along the right edge. Under Ultraviolet light inspection there are a few small areas of inpainting noted. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

“By renouncing all perfectible images, he translated the immediacy of his feelings, letting them pour forth with a degree of force and coherence rarely seen before. From this point on, the painter’s gesture no longer required the classic handling of the paintbrush and the preparation of his canvases no longer called for the same attention as before. All that mattered was swiftness, being in the necessity of the action, and letting his hand, which now wielded a palette knife, express itself freely in generous swaths of paint. The gesture was no longer so much a fuite en avant or a question of fatality but an absolute necessity.”

(Exh. Cat., New York, Acquavella Galleries, Riopelle: Grand Format, New York, 2009, p. 21)