Jean Paul Lemieux (1904–1990), painter, illustrator, critic, and teacher, is one of the most significant artists in the history of Canadian modernity. Born in Quebec City, Lemieux chose to pursue his artistic and teaching career in his native city, from where his art and thought radiated outward for more than half a century. Lemieux captured an inner world of solitude and memories that offered a highly personal, singular vision of Quebec.
As a critic Lemieux was one of the first to define “abstraction” as an expression of a society in decline. Such a perspective deepened the rivalry between the figurative painters of Quebec City and the abstractionists of Montreal. Yet despite this tension, Lemieux was an important advocate for the rights of all French Canadian artists, who often felt isolated from national dialogues.
“Lemieux’s painting conveyed his dark, tragic vision of the tormented historical era he was living through.”
– Michèle Grandbois
Jean Paul Lemieux: Life & Work describes the extraordinary vision of this master of figures. His unembellished paintings create a rich human contact that is astonishingly moving. Lemieux’s instantly recognizable work resonates with viewers for its universal representations of the human condition, space, and time. As a draftsman, painter, illustrator, and muralist, Lemieux forged a distinctive artistic personality that, beginning in 1956, brought him international recognition. His paintings, charged with the passing of time and the smallness of human beings relative to the vast landscapes of Canada, are as revered today as when they were made.
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© 2016 Art Canada Institute.
All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-4871-0081-0
Published in Canada
Art Canada Institute
Massey College, University of Toronto
4 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON M5S 2E1
Banner Image: Paraskeva Clark, Julie and the Universe (Julie et l’univers), 1965. Collection Pierre Lassonde. © Gestion A.S.L. Inc.
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![(Left) Jean Paul Lemieux, Preparatory sketch for “Québec (projet de peinture murale)” (“Québec [Mural Project]”), 1949. The Royal Collection, United Kingdom. Courtesy of The Royal Collection. © Estate of Jean Paul Lemieux. Photo credit: Royal Collection Enterprises Limited. (Right) Diane Landry, Brise-glace (Icebreaker), 2013. Collection of Méduse, Quebec City. Courtesy of Diane Landry. Photo credit: Ivan Binet.](https://assets.staging.artcanada.com/2026/03/23165600/quebec-city-arts-artists-book-landing-page-1-1024x576.jpg)
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