David Alexander Colville Paintings & Artwork for Sale | David Alexander Colville Art Value Price Guide

Oct. 31, 2024
David Alexander (Alex) Colville (1920-2013), THREE SHEEP, 1954-1991
Est: $800 - $1,200
David Alexander (Alex) Colville (1920-2013), Canadian THREE SHEEP, 1954-1991 signed, titled, and editioned "17/100 AP" Estimate: $800—1,200 CAD
Waddington's
Oct. 31, 2024
David Alexander (Alex) Colville (1920-2013), SLEEPER, 1975
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
David Alexander (Alex) Colville (1920-2013), Canadian SLEEPER, 1975 signed, dated, and numbered 37/70 lower right margin; titled and dated to gallery label verso Estimate: $4,000—6,000 CAD
Waddington's
Oct. 24, 2024
Alex Colville (Canadian, 1920-2013) - Three Sheep
Est: $300 - $500
Alex Colville (Canadian, 1920-2013) - Three Sheep
Westbridge Fine Art Auction House
Apr. 27, 2024
Alex Colville "Surveyor, 2001" Offset Lithograph
Est: $600 - $1,200
Alex Colville (1920–2013) was a Canadian painter known for his meticulously detailed and enigmatic works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life imbued with a sense of mystery and tension. He is considered one of Canada's most renowned artists of the 20th century and a master of magic realism.Born in Toronto, Canada, Colville studied fine art at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and later served as a war artist during World War II. His experiences during the war profoundly influenced his art, and themes of conflict, isolation, and existential unease are recurrent in his work.Colville's paintings are characterized by their precise draftsmanship, carefully composed scenes, and muted color palette. He often depicted ordinary people engaged in mundane activities—such as swimming, fishing, or sitting in a living room—but rendered them in a way that imbued them with a sense of mystery and ambiguity.One of Colville's most famous paintings is "Horse and Train" (1954), which depicts a powerful black horse charging down a railroad track toward an oncoming train. The painting is often interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between nature and technology, as well as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.In addition to his paintings, Colville also worked as a printmaker and created a series of iconic designs for Canadian coins, including the popular centennial penny in 1967.Colville's work received international acclaim, and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. His paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world, and he is celebrated for his ability to capture the quiet drama and underlying tension of everyday life.Alex Colville's legacy as one of Canada's greatest artists endures to this day. His works continue to fascinate and intrigue viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic narratives, and he remains a revered figure in the world of contemporary art. Measures 57.2 x 33.25.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alex Colville "Soldier and Girl at Station, 1953" Offset Lithograph
Est: $600 - $1,200
Alex Colville (1920–2013) was a Canadian painter known for his meticulously detailed and enigmatic works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life imbued with a sense of mystery and tension. He is considered one of Canada's most renowned artists of the 20th century and a master of magic realism.Born in Toronto, Canada, Colville studied fine art at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and later served as a war artist during World War II. His experiences during the war profoundly influenced his art, and themes of conflict, isolation, and existential unease are recurrent in his work.Colville's paintings are characterized by their precise draftsmanship, carefully composed scenes, and muted color palette. He often depicted ordinary people engaged in mundane activities—such as swimming, fishing, or sitting in a living room—but rendered them in a way that imbued them with a sense of mystery and ambiguity.One of Colville's most famous paintings is "Horse and Train" (1954), which depicts a powerful black horse charging down a railroad track toward an oncoming train. The painting is often interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between nature and technology, as well as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.In addition to his paintings, Colville also worked as a printmaker and created a series of iconic designs for Canadian coins, including the popular centennial penny in 1967.Colville's work received international acclaim, and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. His paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world, and he is celebrated for his ability to capture the quiet drama and underlying tension of everyday life.Alex Colville's legacy as one of Canada's greatest artists endures to this day. His works continue to fascinate and intrigue viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic narratives, and he remains a revered figure in the world of contemporary art. Measures 57.2 x 38.0.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alex Colville "Swimmer, 1962" Offset Lithograph
Est: $600 - $1,200
Alex Colville (1920–2013) was a Canadian painter known for his meticulously detailed and enigmatic works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life imbued with a sense of mystery and tension. He is considered one of Canada's most renowned artists of the 20th century and a master of magic realism.Born in Toronto, Canada, Colville studied fine art at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and later served as a war artist during World War II. His experiences during the war profoundly influenced his art, and themes of conflict, isolation, and existential unease are recurrent in his work.Colville's paintings are characterized by their precise draftsmanship, carefully composed scenes, and muted color palette. He often depicted ordinary people engaged in mundane activities—such as swimming, fishing, or sitting in a living room—but rendered them in a way that imbued them with a sense of mystery and ambiguity.One of Colville's most famous paintings is "Horse and Train" (1954), which depicts a powerful black horse charging down a railroad track toward an oncoming train. The painting is often interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between nature and technology, as well as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.In addition to his paintings, Colville also worked as a printmaker and created a series of iconic designs for Canadian coins, including the popular centennial penny in 1967.Colville's work received international acclaim, and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. His paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world, and he is celebrated for his ability to capture the quiet drama and underlying tension of everyday life.Alex Colville's legacy as one of Canada's greatest artists endures to this day. His works continue to fascinate and intrigue viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic narratives, and he remains a revered figure in the world of contemporary art. Measures 50.25 x 38.0.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alex Colville "January, 1971" Offset Lithograph
Est: $600 - $1,200
Alex Colville (1920–2013) was a Canadian painter known for his meticulously detailed and enigmatic works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life imbued with a sense of mystery and tension. He is considered one of Canada's most renowned artists of the 20th century and a master of magic realism.Born in Toronto, Canada, Colville studied fine art at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and later served as a war artist during World War II. His experiences during the war profoundly influenced his art, and themes of conflict, isolation, and existential unease are recurrent in his work.Colville's paintings are characterized by their precise draftsmanship, carefully composed scenes, and muted color palette. He often depicted ordinary people engaged in mundane activities—such as swimming, fishing, or sitting in a living room—but rendered them in a way that imbued them with a sense of mystery and ambiguity.One of Colville's most famous paintings is "Horse and Train" (1954), which depicts a powerful black horse charging down a railroad track toward an oncoming train. The painting is often interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between nature and technology, as well as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.In addition to his paintings, Colville also worked as a printmaker and created a series of iconic designs for Canadian coins, including the popular centennial penny in 1967.Colville's work received international acclaim, and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. His paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world, and he is celebrated for his ability to capture the quiet drama and underlying tension of everyday life.Alex Colville's legacy as one of Canada's greatest artists endures to this day. His works continue to fascinate and intrigue viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic narratives, and he remains a revered figure in the world of contemporary art. Measures 47.75 x 37.7.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alex Colville "A Woman on a Ramp, 2006" Offset Lithograph
Est: $500 - $1,000
Alex Colville (1920–2013) was a Canadian painter known for his meticulously detailed and enigmatic works, which often depicted scenes of everyday life imbued with a sense of mystery and tension. He is considered one of Canada's most renowned artists of the 20th century and a master of magic realism.Born in Toronto, Canada, Colville studied fine art at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick and later served as a war artist during World War II. His experiences during the war profoundly influenced his art, and themes of conflict, isolation, and existential unease are recurrent in his work.Colville's paintings are characterized by their precise draftsmanship, carefully composed scenes, and muted color palette. He often depicted ordinary people engaged in mundane activities—such as swimming, fishing, or sitting in a living room—but rendered them in a way that imbued them with a sense of mystery and ambiguity.One of Colville's most famous paintings is "Horse and Train" (1954), which depicts a powerful black horse charging down a railroad track toward an oncoming train. The painting is often interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle between nature and technology, as well as a meditation on mortality and the passage of time.In addition to his paintings, Colville also worked as a printmaker and created a series of iconic designs for Canadian coins, including the popular centennial penny in 1967.Colville's work received international acclaim, and he represented Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1966. His paintings are held in major museums and collections around the world, and he is celebrated for his ability to capture the quiet drama and underlying tension of everyday life.Alex Colville's legacy as one of Canada's greatest artists endures to this day. His works continue to fascinate and intrigue viewers with their haunting beauty and enigmatic narratives, and he remains a revered figure in the world of contemporary art. Measures 37.7 x 37.7.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 21, 2024
Alex Colville "To Prince Edward Island" Lithograph
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Alexander Colville (Canadian, 1920-2013), "To Prince Edward Island", Lithograph in Colors on Paper, signed in pencil lower right and numbered edition "932/950" lower left, certificate of authenticity label to verso, gray wood frame. Image: 19" H x 27.5" W; frame: 27.5" H x 36.25" W. Provenance: From an East Village estate. Keywords: Prints, Multiples, Figural, Binoculars, Seascape, Ocean
Auctions at Showplace
Jun. 28, 2020
Alex Colville, Moon and Cow, 1963 Art Print
Est: $40 - $60
Moon and Cow' was created in 1963 by Alex Colville in Magic Realism style.
4th Meridian Fine Art
Apr. 13, 2019
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (Canadian)
Est: $300 - $400
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (Canadian, 1920-2013), ''Three Sheep'', color lithograph, pencil signed, titled and numbered at bottom. Image 13-1/4''h, 21-1/2''w. (Fine Art)
South Bay Auctions Inc
May. 10, 2018
ALEX COVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013), ALEX COLVILLE - DIARY OF A WAR ARTIST, LIMITED EDITION BOOK; SIGNED, NUMBERED 10/12 AND DATED 4 DEC ‘81 (Published by NIMBUS PUBLISHING COMPANY, Halifax, Nova Scotia - 1981) Compiled by Graham Metson and Cheryl
Est: $300 - $400
ALEX COVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013) ALEX COLVILLE - DIARY OF A WAR ARTISTLIMITED EDITION BOOK; SIGNED, NUMBERED 10/12 AND DATED 4 DEC ‘81 (Published by NIMBUS PUBLISHING COMPANY, Halifax, Nova Scotia - 1981) Compiled by Graham Metson and Cheryl LeanEstimate: $300—400
Waddington's
Mar. 30, 2017
DAVID ALEXANDER (ALEX) COLVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013), SEVEN RAVENS, LIMITED EDITION PRINT; SIGNED, TITLED AND NUMBERED 574/950 WITH SIGNED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY VERSO
Est: -
DAVID ALEXANDER (ALEX) COLVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013) SEVEN RAVENSLIMITED EDITION PRINT; SIGNED, TITLED AND NUMBERED 574/950 WITH SIGNED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY VERSOEstimate: $1,000—1,200
Waddington's
Dec. 29, 2016
David A. Colville, Border Collie, Serigraph in Colors, 1972
Est: €960 - €1,200
Serigraph in colors on wove paper (watermark) USA, 1972 David Alexander Colville (1920-2013) Canadian painter Signed Alex Colville, dated 72 and numbered 208/500 in pencil The work is presented in a brown portfolio and is mounted verso at the upper edge With typographic heading on the portfolio With Greetings and Good Wishes for 1974 from Henry and Wolfgang Fisher and their Colleagues, Alex Colville Border Collie 1972 Serigraph, Edition of 500 Printed by the artist for: [written in ink] Mr. Wolfgang Ketterer Printed and published by Fisher Fine Art Limited, London Image dimensions: 11.4 x 11.5 cm Sheet dimensions: 12.7 x 12.8 cm Dimensions of the portfolio: 26.4 x 21.1 cm Very good condition Condition: The small format work is in very good condition. The image dimensions are 11.4 x 11.5 cm and the sheet dimensions are 12.7 x 12.8 cm. Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG
May. 10, 2016
David A. Colville, Border Collie, Serigraph in Colors, 1972
Est: €900 - €1,170
Serigraph in colors on wove paper (watermark) USA, 1972 David Alexander Colville (1920-2013) – Canadian painter Signed ‘Alex Colville‘, dated ‘72‘ and numbered ‘208/500‘ in pencil The work is presented in a brown portfolio and is mounted verso at the upper edge With typographic heading on the portfolio ‘With Greetings and Good Wishes for 1974 from Henry and Wolfgang Fisher and their Colleagues’, ‘Alex Colville ‘Border Collie‘ 1972 Serigraph, Edition of 500 Printed by the artist for: [written in ink] Mr. Wolfgang Ketterer’ Printed and published by Fisher Fine Art Limited, London Image dimensions: 11.4 x 11.5 cm Sheet dimensions: 12.7 x 12.8 cm Dimensions of the portfolio: 26.4 x 21.1 cm Very good condition Estimate by Auctionata Expert: 1,800 Euro Condition: The small format work is in very good condition. The image dimensions are 11.4 x 11.5 cm and the sheet dimensions are 12.7 x 12.8 cm. Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG
Mar. 17, 2016
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., A BOOK OF HOURS, LABOURS OF THE MONTH, one serigraph and twelve facsmiles contained in a handmade presentation album, overall 16 ins x 15 ins x 2.75 ins; 40.6 cms x 38.1 cms x 7 cms
Est: -
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.A BOOK OF HOURS, LABOURS OF THE MONTHone serigraph and twelve facsmiles contained in a handmade presentation albumthe serigraph Hotel Maid, signed, titled, dated 1978 and numbered 29/75 in pencil in the lower margin; twelve facsimiles of the paintings from “A Book of Hours, Labours of the Month,” each individually matted, published by the Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto and Fischer Fine Art Limited, London, 1979 overall 16 ins x 15 ins x 2.75 ins; 40.6 cms x 38.1 cms x 7 cms Provenance:Private Collection, TorontoLiterature:David Burnett, Colville – Prints/Estampes, Department of External Affairs, Arts Promotion Division, Ottawa, 1985, page 18-19, for select Labour of the Month images and Hotel Maid, reproduced.Note:In a foreword contained within this album, Colville writes about the genesis of the Book of Hours project: “In 1971, someone suggested that I do a series of paintings for reproduction in a desk diary. I decided that I would like to do twelve little paintings - one for each month. I wanted to continue the medieval tradition of Books of Hours and Labours of the Months... At the beginning of the project I decided upon a geometric system which would govern the forms of each of the twelve works and so give them a kind of unity... The original serigraph, Hotel Maid, was also designed (using the same system and) was executed in the hand-cut film technique and printed on acid free rag board. As usual I did all of this myself in my studio.”Estimate: $6,000–7,000
Waddington's
Jan. 28, 2016
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (CANADIAN,1920-2013), KOLN EXPRESS (CANCELLED PRINT), COLOUR SERIGRAPH, INSCRIBED SPOILED TWICE (RECTO), Sheet sight 20.8" x 29.8" — 52.8 x 75.7 cm.
Est: -
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (CANADIAN,1920-2013) KOLN EXPRESS (CANCELLED PRINT)COLOUR SERIGRAPH, INSCRIBED SPOILED TWICE (RECTO)Sheet sight 20.8" x 29.8" — 52.8 x 75.7 cm.Provenance:Private Collection, New BrunswickEstimate: $800—1,200
Waddington's
Dec. 04, 2015
David A. Colville, Border Collie, Serigraph in Colors, 1972
Est: €900 - €1,170
Serigraph in colors on wove paper (watermark) USA, 1972 David Alexander Colville (1920-2013) – Canadian painter Signed ‘Alex Colville‘, dated ‘72‘ and numbered ‘208/500‘ in pencil The work is presented in a brown portfolio and is mounted verso at the upper edge With typographic heading on the portfolio ‘With Greetings and Good Wishes for 1974 from Henry and Wolfgang Fisher and their Colleagues’, ‘Alex Colville ‘Border Collie‘ 1972 Serigraph, Edition of 500 Printed by the artist for: [written in ink] Mr. Wolfgang Ketterer’ Printed and published by Fisher Fine Art Limited, London Image dimensions: 11.4 x 11.5 cm Sheet dimensions: 12.7 x 12.8 cm Dimensions of the portfolio: 26.4 x 21.1 cm Very good condition Estimate by Auctionata Expert: 1,800 Euro Condition: The small format work is in very good condition. The image dimensions are 11.4 x 11.5 cm and the sheet dimensions are 12.7 x 12.8 cm. Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG
May. 25, 2015
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., SUNRISE, 1970, serigraph, printed in colours, 13.75 ins x 25.75 ins; 30.5 cms x 61 cms
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A. SUNRISE, 1970 serigraph, printed in colourssigned, dated 1970 and numbered 62/70 13.75 ins x 25.75 ins; 30.5 cms x 61 cms Provenance:Marlborough Godard Gallery, Toronto/MontrealLiterature:Michael Bell, Colville, Being Seen: the serigraphs, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 40, cat.no.12 for Sunrise, (Collection of Graham Colville), reproduced.David Burnett, Colville - Prints/Estampes, Department of External Affairs, Arts Promotion Division, Ottawa, 1985, page 10, for Sunrise/Lever du soleil, 1970, reproduced.Helen J. Dow, The Art of Alex Colville, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, Toronto, 1972, page 87, and page 195, plate 99 for Sunrise, reproduced in colour. Note:Dow writes that for Colville "the highest art, like marriage, required concentrated effort." She continues: "At least one of his works appear to deal with this analogy, though indirectly, by again examining the nature of love. This is his picture, Sunrise, a serigraph which he executed in 1970... The print portrays a woman silhouetted in purplish tones against the glowing rays of a coral sun as she glides mysteriously past a dark embankment in the graceful embrace of a canoe. In a consideration of the nature of art, however, it is the dramatic juxtaposition of the woman with the rising sun which is especially significant. For just as the sun rises uninvited in the sense that it appears without human control, so love, as the reverse of art, happens suddenly and without conscious effort. To Colville, the mystery of love is a sheer gift while, conversely, marriage in itself is an art, that is to say something premeditated and intentionally planned. For him, all art must be the product of a similarly rational activity."
Waddington's
May. 25, 2015
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., FOREST AND BEACH, oil on masonite, 15 ins x 20 ins; 38.1 cms x 50.8 cms
Est: $15,000 - $25,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A. FOREST AND BEACH oil on masonitesigned and dated '46 15 ins x 20 ins; 38.1 cms x 50.8 cms Provenance:Acquired directly from the artistPrivate Collection, Nova Scotia (by descent to the present owner)Exhibited:Annual Exhibition, Nova Scotia Society of Artists, n.d.Note:Alex Colville was one of Canada's best known realist painters. After graduating from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1942, he enlisted in the army and later served as an official war artist from 1944 to 1946. The experience of war and having witnessed human destruction on such a massive scale affected him profoundly. The few paintings that Colville produced soon after his return to civilian life and his move to Sackville, New Brunswick to teach at Mount Allison, suggest that he was trying to make sense of his war experience as he set about painting his immediate surroundings. Forest and Beach is an early example of Colville's imbuing his subject with questions about human existence. This is more than simply a landscape featuring an uprooted tree and rocks on one of New Brunswick's many beaches. Painted the same year as his canvases for the Canadian War Records, Forest and Beach appears to be a metaphor for the frailty and brevity of human life.
Waddington's
Mar. 10, 2015
David Alexander Colville (1920-2013), CAT ON THE FENCE, 1956, Colour silkscreen; signed and dated 1956 in pencil lower right, signed, titled, dated 1956 and annotated by the artist: "Serigraph edition of 20 only" in pencil verso., Image 21" x 28" -
Est: $8,000 - $10,000
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (1920-2013), CANADIANCAT ON THE FENCE, 1956Colour silkscreen; signed and dated 1956 in pencil lower right, signed, titled, dated 1956 and annotated by the artist: "Serigraph edition of 20 only" in pencil verso.Image 21" x 28" - 53.3 x 71.1 cm.Provenance:Dominion Gallery, Montreal, Inventory no. F2318Literature:David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 1983, reproduced, p. 163Helen J. Dow, The Art of Alex Colville, Toronto, 1972, p. 159 for Cat on a Fence, reproduced in colour, pl. 63Note:After the war, Colville turned to depicting animals and landscapes. Colville has said, "I paint almost always people and animals whom I consider to be wholly good." To be acting properly to be performing the right action which accords with a divinely appointed purpose. Things (such as the cat) are acting properly when walking and are on the prowl (Dow 1972, p. 69) and which are designed to move and are more truly themselves when they are so..." Colville's serigraph print Cat on a Fence "the frame of reference is a lattice fence in the middle ground along which the animal is walking parallel to the picture frame." (Dow, p. 72)Estimate: $8,000-10,000
Waddington's
Mar. 10, 2015
David Alexander Colville (1920-2013), RAVEN, 1990, Colour silkscreen with letters; signed, dated 1990 and numbered 42/70 in pencil to margin, Image 29.5" x 18.75" - 76.8 x 50.2 cm.
Est: $3,500 - $4,500
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE (1920-2013), CANADIANRAVEN, 1990Colour silkscreen with letters; signed, dated 1990 and numbered 42/70 in pencil to marginImage 29.5" x 18.75" - 76.8 x 50.2 cm.Literature:Michael Bell, Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 64, fig. 30, for Raven, reproduced;Helen J. Dow, "The Art of Alex Colville", McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, Toronto, 1972;Philip Fry, Alex Colville, Paintings, Prints and Processes 1983 - 1994, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1994, page 165, reproduced page 167, nine preparatory drawings for this print reproduced page 140 and four preparatory drawings reproduced page 166Note:Colville claimed that the aim of art is "to render visible the mysteries of the supra-natural world" (Fry). His art is firmly rooted in the North American tradition of realism with the human figure being the most essential element of his work- nature itself being his real model. He paints a world governed by divine purpose in a completely harmonious world. His pictures are constructed on a mathematical system of harmonic proportions. The Raven is a major work showing the power of nature and a golden design of balance- if you draw a line from each letter, they meet in the center of the raven.The medium of silkscreen, the youngest amongst the graphic arts, was first recorded as a legitimate printing process in 1907. The medium had obvious attractions for a precise painter like Colville. He could work in delicate, Pointilist strokes, just as he would do in painting.Estimate: $3,500-4,500
Waddington's
Dec. 15, 2014
Portfolio, 'Die Grafikedition zur 4. IAAF', Germany, 1993
Est: €3,200 - €4,000
Portfolio comprising six serigraphs in colors on cardboard Germany, 1993 Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (1923-2014) - African painter and poet Alex Colville (1920-2013) - Canadian painter Jiři Kolář (1914-2002) - Czech artist, poet and political activist Thomas Jangala Rice (b. 1938) and Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan (born 1948) - Australian aborigine painters Anton Stankowski (1906-1998) - German painter, graphic designer and photographer Mika Yoshizawa (born 1959) - Japanese artist Six sheets each signed, one additionally dated and inscribed Six sheets each numbered '19/150' Printed by Hans-Peter Haas, Stuttgart Published by Gallery Water Storms, Munich, on occasion of the fourth World Championship in Athletics in Stuttgart 1993 In gray cardboard half-cloth folder Image dimensions: from 50.2 x 50.2 cm to 67 x 50.8 cm Provenance: Private collection, Germany Very good condition Very interesting portfolio that reflects the international character of the World Championship This edition was published in 1993 on the occasion of the Fourth World Championship in Athletics in Stuttgart. It comprises six serigraphs in colors by different artists from all over the world. Frédéric Bruly Bouabré is from the African Ivory Coast and as a Canadian painter Alex Colville represents the North American continent. Thomas Jangala Rice and Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan are Australian Aborigines who are known for their traditionally coined painting, Asia is represented by the Japanese artist Mika Yoshizawa and Europe by the Czech Jiří Kolář and Anton Stankowski, who is from the host country Germany. The folder thus reflects the international diversity of the world championship on an artistic level. The six serigraphs in colors are each signed and numbered '19/150' in pencil or with ballpoint. One is additionally dated and inscribed. They are overall in very good condition and are contained together with a justification sheet in a half-cloth portfolio out of gray cardboard. The portfolio is in good condition with minor signs of wear. The images measure from 50.2 x 50.2 cm to 67 x 50.8 cm, the sheets each 80 x 60 cm. The dimensions of the portfolio are 82.5 x 62 cm. (fea) Shipping costs excl. statutory VAT and plus 2,5% (+VAT) shipping insurance. Due to the legal obligation for the resale royalty in the art market the following applies: As a result of its membership in the AV Kunst, Auctionata charges additionally to the hammer price the contribution to the AV Kunst of currently 2.1% of the revenues from the sale of fine arts and photographs pro rata towards the buyer. More information about royalty right in our T&C.
Auctionata Paddle8 AG
Nov. 24, 2014
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., RAVEN, serigraph, Image 29.5 ins x 18.75 ins; 76.8 cms x 50.2 cms
Est: $4,500 - $6,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.RAVENserigraphsigned, dated 1990 and numbered 42/70 Image 29.5 ins x 18.75 ins; 76.8 cms x 50.2 cms Literature:Michael Bell, Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 64, fig. 30, for Raven, reproduced.
Waddington's
Nov. 24, 2014
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., NEW MOON, serigraph, 15.75 ins x 19.75 ins; 40 cms x 50.2 cms
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.NEW MOONserigraphsigned, dated 1980 and numbered 24/70 15.75 ins x 19.75 ins; 40 cms x 50.2 cms Provenance:Mira Godard Gallery, TorontoLiterature:David Burnett, Colville - Prints/Estampes, Department of External Affairs, Arts Promotion Division, Ottawa, 1985, page 14 and page 15, fig. 24, for New Moon, reproduced.Michael Bell, Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 49, fig. 20, for New Moon, reproduced.Note:Burnett describes New Moon as a composition "where physical activity and a moment of revelation are set aside in contemplation of the night sky."
Waddington's
Nov. 24, 2014
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., CHIEN D'OR, serigraph, 11 ins x 30 ins; 27.9 cms x 76.2 cms
Est: $4,000 - $5,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.CHIEN D'ORserigraphsigned, dated 1987 and numbered 22/70 11 ins x 30 ins; 27.9 cms x 76.2 cms Provenance:Beckett Gallery, HamiltonLiterature:David Burnett, Colville - Prints/Estampes, Department of External Affairs, Arts Promotion Division, Ottawa, 1985, page 15.Michael Bell, Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 60, fig. 28, for Chien D'Or, reproduced.Note:Many of Colville's works feature animals as part of the whole scene or as the subject themselves. Burnett writes, "His love of animals is deep, and his respect for their existence absolute. 'I think,' he has said, 'of animals as being incapable of evil.'" Here Colville's dog, Min, is the main subject.
Waddington's
Nov. 24, 2014
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A., A BOOK OF HOURS, LABOURS OF THE MONTH, one serigraph and twelve facsmiles contained in a handmade presentation album, overall 16 ins x 15 ins x 2.75 ins; 40.6 cms x 38.1 cms x 7 cms
Est: $9,000 - $12,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.A BOOK OF HOURS, LABOURS OF THE MONTHone serigraph and twelve facsmiles contained in a handmade presentation albumthe serigraph Hotel Maid, signed, titled, dated 1978 and numbered 29/75 in pencil in the lower margin; twelve facsimiles of the paintings from "A Book of Hours, Labours of the Month," each individually matted, published by the Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto and Fischer Fine Art Limited, London, 1979 overall 16 ins x 15 ins x 2.75 ins; 40.6 cms x 38.1 cms x 7 cms Provenance:Private Collection, TorontoLiterature:David Burnett, Colville - Prints/Estampes, Department of External Affairs, Arts Promotion Division, Ottawa, 1985, page 18-19, for select Labour of the Month images and Hotel Maid, reproduced.Note:In a foreword contained within this album, Colville writes about the genesis of the Book of Hours project: "In 1971, someone suggested that I do a series of paintings for reproduction in a desk diary. I decided that I would like to do twelve little paintings - one for each month. I wanted to continue the medieval tradition of Books of Hours and Labours of the Months... At the beginning of the project I decided upon a geometric system which would govern the forms of each of the twelve works and so give them a kind of unity... The original serigraph, Hotel Maid, was also designed (using the same system and) was executed in the hand-cut film technique and printed on acid free rag board. As usual I did all of this myself in my studio."
Waddington's
Oct. 28, 2014
ALEXANDER (ALEX) COVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013), THREE SHEEP, LIMITED EDITION PRINT; HAND SIGNED AND NUMBERED 124/950 BY THE ARTIST; TITLED LOWER MIDDLE (Image, 13.3" x 21.5") WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
Est: -
ALEXANDER (ALEX) COVILLE (CANADIAN, 1920-2013) THREE SHEEPLIMITED EDITION PRINT; HAND SIGNED AND NUMBERED 124/950 BY THE ARTIST; TITLED LOWER MIDDLE (Image, 13.3" x 21.5") WITH CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITYEstimate: $300-400
Waddington's
Oct. 22, 2014
David Alexander Colville 1920-2013, 'Toronto Snow' 1969, serigraph 57/70, signed, numbered and dated in pencil,
Est: £2,000 - £3,000
David Alexander Colville 1920-2013, 'Toronto Snow' 1969, serigraph 57/70, signed, numbered and dated in pencil, PROVENANCE: Purchased from Marlborough Graphics. h:25.50 w:19.50 in.
Ewbank's
Jun. 19, 2014
Border Collie (1972)
Est: CHF1,200 - CHF1,800
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE Geb. 1920 in Toronto Border Collie (1972) Unten rechts signiert "AlexColville", datiert "(19)72" und nummeriert "220/500". Serigraphie, 11,5 x 11,5 cm
Galerie Fischer Auktionen AG
May. 31, 2014
Colville, Alexander: Berlin Bus
Est: €2,000 - €2,500
Berlin Bus Farbserigraphie auf Velinkarton. Um 1980. 50 x 50 cm (80 x 60 cm). Signiert und bezeichnet "E.(preuve d')A.(rtiste)". Auflage 10 röm. num. Ex. Alexander Colville verbrachte 1971 anlässlich des Berliner Künstlerprogramms einige Monate in Berlin, wo er von den Doppeldeckerbussen fasziniert war. Es entstanden zahlreiche Zeichnungen, darunter auch eine mit dem Motiv eines rennenden Mädchen vor einem Doppeldeckerbus. Diese Zeichnung arbeitete er 1978 zu einem Gemälde aus, wonach unser Blatt entstand. Prachtvoller, farbfrischer Druck mit Rand.
Bassenge Auctions
Nov. 21, 2013
Border Collie (1972)
Est: CHF1,500 - CHF2,500
Border Collie (1972) DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE Geb. 1920 in Toronto Unten rechts signiert "AlexColville", datiert "(19)72" und nummeriert "220/500".
Galerie Fischer Auktionen AG
May. 30, 2013
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian colour serigraph on paper Fête Champêtre
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian colour serigraph on paper Fête Champêtre 18 7/8 x 18 7/8 inches 47.9 x 47.9 centimeters signed, editioned II/XXX and dated 1984 Literature:Philip Fry, Alex Colville: Paintings, Prints and Processes, 1983 - 1994, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1995, page 150, reproduced page 151 Provenance:Private Collection, Montreal Alex Colville said of this peaceful and intimate work, "There is a great painting of this title which I always thought was a Georgione, but I recently discovered is a Titian. I use the title as homage to the painting. The woman is giving forth; the man is recumbent, taking it in." Philip Fry writes, "This is an intimate festival, the delight of a quiet woodland clearing, still, full of gentle song and repose." The man "listens in tranquil rapture to her song or perhaps has already slipped away to that serene, resonant place where music and the flow of the waters are one."
Heffel
May. 15, 2013
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian watercolour and
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian watercolour and graphite on paper West Cappelle, Belgium 11 1/4 x 9 inches 28.6 x 22.9 centimeters signed, titled, dated 2 Nov 1944 and inscribed with colour notations in graphite Literature:Tom Smart, Alex Colville: Return, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 2003, page 24 Provenance:Private Collection, Ontario Private Collection, Vancouver In May of 1942, Alex Colville enlisted in the Canadian Armoured Corps. After two years of army service, he was appointed a Canadian war artist in the spring of 1944, recording the events of World War II. Stationed in England, he trained to work with watercolour, bringing to his subjects the cool and observant eye for which he would become so well known in his Realist paintings. In October of 1944 he was transferred to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, on its way to Belgium, Holland and Germany. Colville made drawings and watercolours in the field, and this fluid, atmospheric watercolour is from a more peaceful time in his war experience when, as he related, "everyday I would go out with this jeep and driver, and anything I saw that was interesting I would make a drawing or watercolour of it." Once Colville had crossed Holland's Nijmegen Bridge, a more sombre mood dominated, as he and his company entered the zone of the war's destruction. Much of Colville's work as a war artist is in the collection of the Canadian War Museum, making this watercolour rare to the market.
Heffel
May. 15, 2013
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on
Est: $18,000 - $22,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on paper Night Walk IV 9 1/4 x 8 inches 23.5 x 20.3 centimeters dated November 23, 1981 twice and on verso inscribed ""22"" Literature:Alex Colville: The Splendour of Order, The National Film Board of Canada, 1983, featured and discussed in the video. A copy of this video in VHS is included with this lot. David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983, the 1981 canvas entitled Night Walk reproduced page 211 David Burnett, Alex Colville, Heffel Gallery Limited, 1989, listed, unpaginated Provenance:Heffel Gallery Limited, Vancouver Drabinsky Gallery, Toronto Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver Private Collection, Vancouver Exhibited:Heffel Gallery Limited, Vancouver, Alex Colville, October 1989, catalogue #13 Alex Colville's art is complex and intriguing, and the diagram at the top of this work shows how carefully planned his compositions are. The artist has divided the work into vertical quadrants, and a central circle is marked out into a five-pointed star. The vanishing point of the sidewalk is also clearly drawn. These are the balancing points of the composition, the points that move our eye around in the work. The central part of the work is filled with trees shrouded in darkness, and all of the visual weight of the work is at the right in the steadily advancing man and dog. We see in the diagram that a vertical line runs directly through both of their breastbones. Thus, in their movement towards us, they move as one. The theme of a blind man on a night walk is composed differently in other drawings and in the final 1981 masterwork by Colville. This poignant drawing speaks of the man's visual isolation and the mystery of his experience of his internal night within the night surrounding him.
Heffel
Mar. 28, 2013
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian silkscreen Bridge and Raven
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian silkscreen Bridge and Raven 13 1/4 x 18 3/4 inches 33.7 x 47.6 centimeters signed, editioned 70/70 and dated 1993 Provenance:Private Collection, Nova Scotia
Heffel
Mar. 14, 2013
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.
Est: $3,000 - $4,000
DAVID ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A. BRIDGE AND RAVEN, colour silkscreen; signed, dated 1993, numbered VI/XXIX and inscribed "For Marilyn" in the margin 13.25 ins x 18.5 ins; 33.1 cms x 46.3 cms
Waddington's
Jan. 31, 2013
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian silkscreen Bridge and Raven
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian silkscreen Bridge and Raven 13 1/4 x 19 inches 33.7 x 48.3 centimeters signed, editioned 49/70 and dated 1993 and on verso titled and dated on a label Literature:Philip Fry, Alex Colville, Paintings, Prints and Processes 1983 - 1994, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, page 68, reproduced page 169 Provenance:Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver Private Collection, Vancouver Philip Fry writes, "the bridge.....becomes the stable axis in a crossing of ways punctuated by the swift, vibrant presence of the raven.....the bridge is an intersection, a place of change. Here, laden with the crafty knowledge and wisdom of its species, the raven erupts into view, announcing as it has from time immemorial the perplexing but inevitable task of humankind: to achieve freedom by choosing fate."
Heffel
Nov. 29, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph Willow 27 1/2 x 17 inches 69.8 x 43.2 centimeters signed, editioned 57/70 and dated 2002 Provenance:Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver Private Collection, Vancouver
Heffel
Nov. 29, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph Navigation 14 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches 36.2 x 38.7 centimeters signed, editioned 43/70 and dated 1995 and on verso titled and dated on a gallery label Literature:Tom Smart, Alex Colville: Return, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 2003, reproduced page 59 and two 1994 drawings entitled Study for Navigation reproduced pages 60 and 61 Provenance:Douglas Udell Gallery, Vancouver Private Collection, Vancouver
Heffel
Nov. 26, 2012
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.THE BALLAD OF THE FOXHUNTER: I, II, III, IV, colour serigraphs; each signed and dated 1959 each 18 ins x 10 ins; 45 cms x 25 cms Literature: Michael Bell, "Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs," Carlton University
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.THE BALLAD OF THE FOXHUNTER: I, II, III, IV, colour serigraphs; each signed and dated 1959 each 18 ins x 10 ins; 45 cms x 25 cms $4,000-6,000Literature: Michael Bell, "Colville, Being Seen: The Serigraphs," Carlton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, 1994, page 31, cat no.5, reproduced. David Burnett, "Colville," Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 1983, page 104, reproduced.
Waddington's
Nov. 26, 2012
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.STUDY FOR LOOKING DOWN, ink and acrylic on paper; signed and dated "16 May '88 - 1 June '88" image 7.25 ins x 7.25 ins; 18.1 cms x 18.1 cms Provenance: Dominion Gallery, Montreal.Private Collection, Vancouver.
Est: $12,000 - $15,000
ALEXANDER COLVILLE, R.C.A.STUDY FOR LOOKING DOWN, ink and acrylic on paper; signed and dated "16 May '88 - 1 June '88" image 7.25 ins x 7.25 ins; 18.1 cms x 18.1 cms $12,000-15,000Provenance: Dominion Gallery, Montreal.Private Collection, Vancouver.
Waddington's
Nov. 22, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian ink and tempera
Est: $15,000 - $20,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian ink and tempera on paper Four Women 12 1/4 x 18 1/2 inches 31.1 x 47 centimeters signed and dated 10 April 52 and on verso titled Literature:Helen J. Dow, The Art of Alex Colville, 1972, the 1952 tempera on board entitled Four Figures on Wharf, in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, reproduced page 60 David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983, page 80, the 1952 tempera on board entitled Four Figures on Wharf, in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, reproduced page 74 Tom Smart, Alex Colville: Return, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 2005, the 1952 tempera on board entitled Four Figures on Wharf, in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada, reproduced page 46 Provenance:Private Collection, Toronto Exhibited:The Art Gallery of Toronto, Women's Exhibition Committee, circa 1952 - 1954 The great English sculptor Henry Moore was an artist Alex Colville greatly revered. Colville's Four Women contains references to Moore's style in the formal drapery and robust draughtsmanship of the female forms. The impressive 1952 painting Four Figures on Wharf, in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, was based on a number of smaller works including this fine mixed media work. The scholar David Burnett felt that this image refers to Colville's experience of wartime, and was "an abstraction of memory, a reflection of Colville's desire to return home and be reunited with his wife." Of the hauntingly beautiful figures, which are staged on a wharf in the large work, he states,"We cannot identify specific fears and longings in the women; they are anonymous, even in the characterless drapery they wear. We are turned back from them.....as if we are standing on the shore, literally and figuratively standing back from these events, creating an idealized image of memory." The National Gallery acquired several other important Colville canvases during this decade, including Child and Dog and Woman, Man and Boat.
Heffel
Nov. 22, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on
Est: $25,000 - $30,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on card Study for Artist and Blue Jay 11 1/2 x 8 inches 29.2 x 20.3 centimeters dated 5 May 1993, 6 May and 11 May 1993 and inscribed in the margin by the artist with his colour and measurement notes and on verso titled ""Two Studies for Artist and Blue Jay"" on the gallery label and inscribed ""DUG 19093"" in graphite Literature:Philip Fry, Alex Colville, Paintings, Prints and Processes 1983 - 1994, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1994, reproduced page 141, along with 13 other preparatory drawings reproduced pages 141 and 142, five stages of the serigraph reproduced page 143, the 1993 serigraph entitled Artist and Blue Jay reproduced page 171 and five additional studies reproduced pages 170 and 172 Provenance:Douglas Udell Gallery, Edmonton & Vancouver Private Collection, Toronto Exhibited:The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Alex Colville, Paintings, Prints and Processes 1983 - 1994, September 30 - January 15, 1995, catalogue #32.14 Alex Colville has often featured animals in his work - domesticated animals as well as wild creatures, including birds such as the cormorant, kingfisher, crow and, in this complex mixed media study, the blue jay. Here, the blue jay flies by, unseen by the man - Colville himself - who is engrossed in his ritual of shaving. The jay, as well, is oblivious to Colville: both are completely absorbed in the patterns of their species; these kinds of contrasting juxtapositions fascinate Colville. In addition, the jay is spatially outside yet appears positioned close to Colville's head; it is acting in a natural manner while Colville, through the act of grooming, controls his natural appearance, symbolically implying the world of instinct versus the rational. Colville's process is to prepare for prints and paintings with preparatory studies, and the outcome of his explorations of this image was the 1993 serigraph Artist and Blue Jay. This work is particularly intriguing, as he examines the possibilities of both structure and colour for this image in two stages.
Heffel
Sep. 27, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph Black Cat
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian serigraph Black Cat 14 1/8 x 14 1/8 inches 35.9 x 35.9 centimeters signed, editioned 34/70 and dated 1996 and on verso titled, editioned and dated on a gallery label Literature:Tom Smart, Alex Colville: Return, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, 2003, reproduced page 82 Provenance:Heffel Gallery Limited, Vancouver Private Collection, Edmonton
Heffel
May. 17, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on
Est: $15,000 - $20,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on card Study for Laser 4 1/2 x 7 7/8 inches 11.4 x 20 centimeters signed, dated 1976 and inscribed in the margin by the artist with his colour and measurement notes Literature:Marina Vaizey, Alex Colville, Fischer Fine Art Limited, 1977, the 1976 painting entitled Laser and two other studies for Laser entitled Study for Laser and Figure Study for Laser reproduced page 9 David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983, the 1976 painting entitled Laser, in the collection of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, reproduced page 234 David Burnett, Alex Colville: Prints and Paintings, 1985, the 1976 painting Laser reproduced page 12 Provenance:Fischer Fine Art Limited, London Marlborough-Godard, Toronto An Important Private Estate, Montreal Alex Colville is a Canadian realist artist of great international repute. Fischer Fine Art, which exhibited this work in 1977, was Alex Colville's dealer in London, England for many years. Great interest was taken in Colville's work by European museums and collectors, reflected in the fact that the painting for this fine study is in the collection of Germany's Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. In the catalogue for the 1977 exhibition that included the painting Laser, the text was also in German. In preparing for his paintings, Colville does a series of studies in which he determines sightlines, compositional elements and colour, and an acrylic work would likely have evolved from earlier pencil drawings. In this vital study which contains all the main elements of the final painting, the figure's face is partially hidden. The main focus is on the balance and tautness of the body in assured control of the boat, in harmony with wind and water. With his careful observations and distillations of pictorial elements Colville shapes his image, transforming the known world into something extraordinary.
Heffel
May. 17, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on
Est: $15,000 - $20,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian mixed media on card Study for Woman, Dog & Canoe 4 3/8 x 6 7/8 inches 11.1 x 17.5 centimeters signed, dated 1982 and inscribed in the margin by the artist with his colour and measurement notes and on verso titled on the gallery label Literature:David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983, the 1982 serigraph Woman, Dog and Canoe reproduced page 201 David Burnett, Alex Colville: Prints, 1985, the 1982 serigraph Woman, Dog and Canoe reproduced front cover Provenance:Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto An Important Private Estate, Montreal This luminous work is the study for the 1982 serigraph Woman, Dog and Canoe. Colville produces preparatory works for both his prints and paintings and, in some cases, the decision to execute a print or a painting from the evolving image happens late in this process. Colville's approach to his serigraphs is as technically precise and carefully thought out as for his paintings. This study is at a high point of evolution in that it contains all the primary pictorial elements of the serigraph. His use of colour in this work is more brilliant than the serigraph, making this work less formal, exuding more of the glowing light and the heightened hues of summer. The brilliant blue of the water makes the canoe appear to float, and the pointillist application of paint on its surface adds to the impression of lightness. The uniquely Canadian image of the canoe and paddler has recurred in Colville's work, such as in the 1970 serigraph Sunrise, the 1972 painting Woman Carrying Canoe and the 1979 painting Swimming Dog and Canoe.
Heffel
May. 17, 2012
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian ink on paper
Est: $7,000 - $9,000
Alexander Colville 1920 - Canadian ink on paper Study for Berlin Bus 11 3/4 x 9 inches 29.8 x 22.9 centimeters signed and dated 9 Feb. 1978 and 10 Feb. 1978 twice Literature:David Burnett, Colville, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1983, the 1978 painting entitled Berlin Bus reproduced page 123, the 1971 ink drawing Study for Berlin Bus reproduced page 132 and two 1978 pencil and ink studies, both entitled Study for Berlin Bus, reproduced page 133 Provenance:Marlborough-Godard, Toronto An Important Private Estate, Montreal In 1971, Alex Colville spent six months in Berlin as Visiting Artist under the Berliner Kunstlerprogramm. While there, he produced many drawings, some of which formed the basis for the 1978 painting Berlin Bus, for which this is a study. Colville was fascinated by the double-decked buses there, and included one in the final painting. A 1971 ink drawing Study for Berlin Bus included figures on the street, but when Colville returned to Canada later in 1971, the idea of the running girl entered into the concept. Seven years later, he returned to this image, continued his studies and finished the painting, which features the running girl, as seen in this refined drawing, as a prominent element. Colville depicts her in a moment of heightened physical activity, sprinting franticly, twisting her head to the left. In the painting, he positions her running parallel but not close to the bus, her stride suspended in mid-air. It is an intriguing image, and as with the most powerful of Colville's works, there is more going on than is immediately apparent.
Heffel