Gosselin river, oil on panel, 14. 1 x 13. 3 cm. Pierre lassonde collection. National museum of fine arts of quebec
“this little sketch illustrates one of suzor-coté’s favorite subjects, the gosselin river, which crosses his native village of arthabaska. Everything indicates that this is a study carried out directly on the motif. Indeed, its wooden support, its restricted format, its sketched character as well as the lateral gaps – a sign that the freshly painted panel has been inserted in a box suitable for transport – are characteristics revealing an outdoor work. Suzor-coté notes in a close-up the arabesque outline of the river, a composition whose decorative effect he seems to appreciate, since he will repeat it many times during his career. In his pochade, the painter was able to capture the delicate shades of blue and mauve which color the sky, the watercourse as well as the hills and vegetation in the background. The waters of the river, which have melted the snow in certain places along the banks, reveal touches of green, brown and sand here and there. - anne-élisabeth vallée, holder of a doctorate in art history from uqam. Date: 1901.
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