Renaissance

Description

‘Renaissance‘ by Daphne Odjig, 1981 – First Nations Woodland Art presented by DaVic Gallery of Native Canadian Arts.

Due to the significant historical value and specialized white-glove shipping requirements for this original Odjig work, we process all acquisitions via personalized consultation to ensure the highest standard of delivery and care.

Please contact us to arrange your purchase transaction of this product:  info@nativecanadianarts.com   or call us at 604-679-8392

Condition:       No condition to report.

Provenance:   From the estate of Kenneth and Eunice Barron. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Description by Artist:     No description by the artist found.

Notes from DaVic Gallery:   ‘Renaissance’ (1981) is a masterclass in texture, intimacy, and cultural reclamation. Created on premium Arches white paper, this oil pastel work reveals the deeply physical nature of Daphne Odjig’s process. Here, the signature ‘rhythmic line’ is not merely drawn but ‘carved’ into the grain of the paper—a direct technical inheritance from her grandfather, a traditional stone carver.

The composition features two interlocking figures—a signature Odjig motif representing the ‘Renaissance’ of Indigenous identity and the enduring strength of human connection. In the early 1980s, Odjig moved beyond the political protest of her earlier years to focus on the spiritual rebuilding of her people; these figures symbolize the merging of ancestral wisdom with a modern future.

The sepia-toned palette, highlighted with blues and yellows, evokes an ancient, sun-drenched memory, while the use of oil pastel provides a ‘lithic’ or stone-like depth rarely seen in works on paper. As a pivotal work from her highly collectible early-80s period, ‘Renaissance’ perfectly balances her Woodland heritage with high-modernist abstraction, offering a museum-grade entry point into the legacy of the Indian Group of Seven’s Matriarch.

To truly appreciate the intimate scale and tactile depth of this original masterwork, please refer to the final gallery image showing ‘Renaissance’ in situ. Displayed within a contemporary living space, you can observe how the warm, sepia-toned oil pastels and the rhythmic, hand-sculpted lines create a sophisticated and grounding focal point—proving that Odjig’s 1981 ‘Renaissance’ is as much a spiritual anchor as it is a premier work of Indigenous Modernism.