Jean McEwen (1923-1999) is one of the most original, distinctive, and collected Canadian abstract artists. 

Predominantly self-taught, McEwen experimented with figurative subject matter before discovering the power of abstraction. His work was primarily inspired by the spontaneity of the Automatistes and the Montreal art scene, which influenced his aesthetic.

However, from today's vantage point, his work feels more like an anomaly when positioned amongst Automatiste works and arguably has more in common with his American contemporaries associated with the Color Field movement.  

McEwen is renowned for his deliberate, weighted application of layered paint. His vast canvases host translucent coats, which are compressed onto the surface of the composition. 

Carried out in watercolor, this intimate painting serves as an example of his distinctive technique. Rich black swathes fill the work's surface, revealing the soft washes of sky blue, cotton candy, and tangerine that peak through from the base layers.

McEwen's inclusion of a window in the center of the work highlights the illusion of depth in this piece, while also offering a closer glimpse into the possibilities of this medium.

In 1987, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts held a retrospective of McEwen’s work followed by another in 2019, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of his death. 

McEwen was the recipient of several Canadian awards and international honors. He is also remembered as an important and influential instructor at Concordia University, Montreal. Today his work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, among others.

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"Untitled"

Canada, 1989

Signed and dated in pencil

Watercolor

24"H 18"W (work)

31.25"H 25"W (framed)

Very good condition