Does the name Marc-Aurèle Fortin ring a bell? He was no ordinary artist. Marc-Aurèle Fortin was a prolific Quebec artist. He left an indelible mark on Canadian art. He excelled as a painter. He was also an accomplished watercolorist. Engraving and drawing were among his many talents. Over his career Marc-Aurèle Fortin produced more than eight thousand works of art. His pieces often depicted colorful and picturesque landscapes.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin became renowned for specific themes. Enormous leafy elms frequently appeared in his art. Rustic houses were another signature element. Hay carts also featured prominently. His representations of the Port of Montreal are particularly notable.
Born in Sainte-Rose north of Montreal Island on March 14 1888 Marc-Aurèle Fortin drew inspiration from various painters. Jean-François Millet and Claude Monet influenced him. Mary Cassat Frank Brangwyn and Sir Alfred East also played a role. In the summer of 1920 after a trip to Europe Fortin visited Quebec. Ile d’Orléans and Charlevoix inspired him. He sketched and painted houses and rural scenes there.
Throughout the years Marc-Aurèle Fortin explored new artistic techniques. He presented his works at numerous international exhibitions. These included the Musée du Québec in 1944. His art was displayed in the Netherlands in 1948. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts showcased his work in 1954. The National Gallery of Canada followed suit in 1963. Marc-Aurèle Fortin received several awards. The Jessie Dow Prize from the Art Association of Montreal in 1938 was one. He also won a bronze medal at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. He became a collaborator of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
The hay cart became his artistic signature. His exuberant interpretation of trees is striking. Many of his paintings were created from his Montreal apartment.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin sought a unique interpretation. He wanted to capture the soul of Quebec’s nature. By the 1920s his distinct style began to emerge. Giant elms shading Quebec’s country roads fascinated him. Poplars and maples with immense branches also caught his eye. He chose to represent them with detailed vibrant foliage. This led to his famous series of grand trees.
Around the same time he painted lyrical watercolors. These featured trees with sponge-like textures and flamboyant colors. He created many landscapes of Laval and northern Montreal. Views of the Port of Montreal from Île Sainte-Hélène were also among his works. In the second half of the 1920s Fortin began creating pure watercolors. He used this technique for rural landscapes. He also depicted Montreal’s urban transformation. The Hochelaga neighborhood and the developing Port of Montreal became subjects. From these urban landscapes he created his first etchings in 1930.
In November 1933 Fortin traveled to France for nearly four months. Upon his return he declared that the future of painting was in America. His style transformed. Fortin revealed his innovative spirit. He painted on gray backgrounds to describe Quebec’s warm skies. He used black backgrounds to intensify the relationship between shadow and light. Critics praised these works for their decorative qualities. They often moved away from realistic representation. Some even bordered on abstraction.
In 1936 Fortin began summer trips. These took him to Quebec City Île d’Orléans and Charlevoix. In the early 1940s he visited Gaspésie. The Saguenay region attracted him in the late 1940s. He brought back numerous watercolors. He created many variations of these in his studio.
Always seeking to renew himself Fortin also explored drawing. He experimented with pastels charcoal and colored pencils. In the late 1930s he enhanced his watercolors with charcoal Conté crayon and pastel. These became known as his mixed watercolors. In the late 1940s he discovered casein a milk-based distemper. He exploited its fluidity on large wooden supports.
By 1966 journalists revealed his poor condition sparking public outcry. Despite his wealth Fortin lived in misery. Eventually a friend and collector René Buisson rescued him.
Marc-Aurèle Fortin passed away peacefully on March 2 1970. His legacy remains a testament to his artistic vision. His unique style continues to inspire.