Mary Pratt (1935-2018) is a revered and cherished figure in Canadian art and one of Canada's foremost figurative painters.
Spending her life and career in Newfoundland, Pratt is renowned for her vibrant and meticulous depictions of commonplace objects, people, and places within her close proximity. With a primary focus on still life, Pratt captures seemingly banal scenes of domestic life with nearly photographic precision and a keen eye for enriching her subjects through her undisputed mastery of light and color.
While Pratt is adept at presenting "cozy" subjects, her work often features an undercurrent of menace, mortality, or vanitas. Ranging from subtle deviance to daring confrontation, Pratt does not neglect the more somber and taboo realities of everyday life.
"Watermelon" is a striking example of Pratt's signature aesthetic, this time realized through woodcut printing alongside Japanese master printmaker Masato Arikushi of Vancouver.
Their collaboration was idyllic, understanding each other's creative intentions from the get-go with little intervention. The two worked together for nine years to complete the series entitled Transformations (1993–2002), which includes this work.
Consistent with the subject matter throughout Pratt's oeuvre, the work in this series portrayed sensuous depictions of fruit, highlighting their transient nature. This is an exceptional output from the later years of Pratt's career and a rare opportunity to acquire a piece by one of Canada's most accomplished artists.
Pratt's work can be found in national collections including the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa), the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Beaverbrook Gallery, and Canada House (UK).
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"Cut Watermelon"
Canada, 1997
Color woodcut
Signed, titled, dated, and numbered by the artist
From an edition of 75
16.5"H 23.75"W (sheet)
Framed
Very good condition.
Note: price is $7,500 CAD
