Canadian Fine Art

November 1318, 2021
Auction begins to close at 7:00 pm ET

Online Auction
LOT 15

Lot 15

TAKAO TANABE

TAKAO TANABE
Lot 15 Details
TAKAO TANABE

SUMMER FOOTHILLS 4/79 (EVENING), 1979

acrylic on canvas
signed; also signed and titled on the reverse
66 ins x 45 ins; 167.6 cms x 114.3 cms

Estimate $15,000-$25,000

Realised: $36,000
Price Includes Buyer's Premium ?

Lot Report

Additional Images
TAKAO TANABE
  • TAKAO TANABE
  • TAKAO TANABE
  • TAKAO TANABE
  • TAKAO TANABE
  • TAKAO TANABE
Provenance:

Marlborough-Godard Gallery, Calgary, AB;
Mira Godard Gallery, Toronto, ON;
Consignor Canadian Fine Art, Toronto, ON 29 May 2014, Lot 3;
Private Collection, Toronto, ON

Note:

One of eight “Summer Foothills” paintings produced in 1979, Tanabe revisited and reworked the subject often between 1977 and 1983. In addition to the acrylic paintings, the series also includes watercolours and a small number of drawings.

During this period, the artist and his wife Anona were based in Banff, Alberta—where Tanabe lived from 1973-1980. The two would make weekend excursions on the backroads of Alberta in search of the views Tanabe would capture with his camera and then use as a basis for his paintings.

“Summer Foothills” employs Tanabe’s ‘one-shot’ technique, in which the artist would apply pigment with a single, rapid application—once for the sky and once for the land. In this they harken to Japanese ink paintings, which leave no room for revision. By the end of Tanabe’s stay in Banff, he began shifting his practice away from one-shot paintings, though this particular work is a late example of the type.

While Tanabe is famous for not commenting on specific works, in an interview with Nancy Tousley given in August of 1979, he explained:

"I don't feel the tug to paint a view that somebody can recognize as being seen from their front porch or from some crossroads…mostly it's an idea about space that I have and that I've had for many years, especially about the flat prairie. So for me it's really a sense of the place, but really a generalized sense of space. What I think about the prairie is perhaps romantic but it is an enormously simple-looking space and within all that simplicity it's very, very rich, very subtle. I think those are the things I have been trying to get in the paintings. It's surprising how many bumps, hollows and changes of colour there are."

We would like to thank Anona Thorne for her contributions to this essay.

Literature:
Nancy Tousley, Takao Tanabe: The Prairie Paintings, Takao Tanabe, ed. Ian Thom. (Vancouver Art Gallery and Douglas & McIntyre: Vancouver, 2005), 88.

CONDITION DETAILS

Very good condition.

Please contact the specialist for further condition information.


All lots from this auction will be made available for pre-auction, in-person inspection and preview. This condition report has been prepared by Waddington’s as a courtesy and has been provided for guidance only. Each lot is offered in the condition it is in at the time of sale. Any reference to condition in the report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Waddington’s. Please note, certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot and may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot’s actual colour and shades, depending on your screen settings. Although Waddington’s takes great care in executing condition reports, Waddington’s specialists are not professional conservators or restorers and the report set forth is only a statement of opinion. For that reason this report is provided as a courtesy and is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice. Prospective buyers should bear in mind that this report will not disclose any imperfections which may only be revealed during the course of subsequent restoration. The Buyer agrees that Waddington’s will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the report. Buyers are reminded that Waddington’s warranties with respect to any property are limited as set forth in the Conditions of Sale and do not extend to condition.

LOT 15
×

About Condition Ratings

  • 5 Stars: Excellent - No discernable damage, flaws or imperfections
  • 4 Stars: Very Good - Minor flaws or imperfections visible only under close inspection using specialised instruments or black light
  • 3 Stars: Good - Minor flaws visible upon inspection under standard lighting
  • 2 Stars: Fair - Exhibits flaws or damage that may draw the eye under standard lighting
  • 1 Star: Poor - Flaws or damage immediately apparent under standard lighting (examples: missing components, rips, broken glass, damaged surfaces, etc.)

Note: Condition ratings and condition details are the subjective opinions of our specialists and should be used as a guide only. Waddington’s uses due care when preparing condition details, however, our staff are not professional restorers or conservators. Condition details and reports are not warranties and each lot is sold “as is” in accordance with the buyer’s terms and conditions of sale. In all cases the prospective purchaser is responsible for inspecting the property themselves prior to placing a bid.