Daphne Odjig: Two Early Works

The legend of nanabush, 1968

Throughout the Northeastern Woodlands and Great Lakes, stories of the shape-shifting trickster-hero Nanabush are widespread. For some Algonquin and Anishinaabeg people, Nanabush is cited as having furnished mankind with their first canoe, and among the Anishinaabe, Nanabush is central to the origin story of Turtle Island.

The Legend of Nanabush, 1968 appears to depict one telling of the Nanabush story, in which the hero attacks malevolent underwater Manitou (spirits) in retribution for their fatal attack on a companion of Nanabush. After Nanabush’s attack on the Manitou, the spirits will go on to flood the world, and Nanabush will create the earth, rested on the back of a turtle.

The mythical figure Nanabush was a favourite childhood character of Daphne Odjig. Drawn to the transformative powers embodied by this sometimes trickster, sometime teacher spirit, it was a subject she enjoyed revisiting throughout her career, saying in the 1992 book, A Paintbrush in My Hand: “I’m very much a part of the past, that’s where I draw a lot of my inspiration. I enjoy delving into things like that and being able to express it on paper. For something to turn out well you’ve got to be happy doing it; the thought, the idea has to flow.

When I envisioned Nanabush he was a little spirit, a little being. I never thought of Nanabush in terms of being she. I didn’t think of Nanabush as being physically powerful, but powerful in the sense of being able to do anything, turn into anything, living in the spiritual world and in this one at the same time.”[1]

Gifted by Odjig in the early 1970s to her accountant and financial advisor for the Odjig Gallery, Etienne Wood, this large and significant early work by the artist is offered for the first time since being painted in 1968.

[1] Daphne Odjig, A Paintbrush in my Hand (Toronto: Natural History/Natural Heritage inc., 1992), 103.

Reference:
John Bierhorst, Mythology of the Lenape: Guide and Texts (Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1995)
F. Kent Reilly, James F. Garber et al, Ancient Objects and Sacred Realms: Interpretations of Mississippian Iconography (Texas: University of Texas Press, 2010)

FIRE OF THE MAPLE LEAVES, 1968

We are also honoured to offer another important work by Daphne Odjig in this auction, Fire of the Maples, 1968.

Exhibited:
The Drawings and Paintings of Daphne Odjig: A Retrospective Exhibition, Curated by Bonnie Devine, Art Gallery of Sudbury, Sudbury, ON, 15 Sep-11 Nov 2007, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops, BC, 8 Jun-31 Aug 2008, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON, 23 Oct 2009-3 Jan 2010, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, SK, 6 Feb 2010-2 May 2010.

Literature:
Bonnie Devine, The Drawings and Paintings of Daphne Odjig: A Retrospective Exhibition (Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2007), pl. 22, 130, pl. 22.

about the auction

Our major fall First Nations Art auction is available for bidding now through November 28.

In addition to these works, our major fall auction of First Nations Art includes an important painting by Kent Monkman, as well as works by Norval Morrisseau, Alex Janvier, Norman Tait, David Neel, Chief Henry Speck Sr., Tim Paul, Robert Charles Davidson, Corey Bulpitt, and others.

Public previews

Previews will be available at our new Toronto gallery located at 100 Broadview Avenue:
Saturday, November 23 from 12 noon to 4 pm
Sunday, November 24 from 12 noon to 4 pm
Monday, November 25 from 10 am to 5 pm
Tuesday, November 26 from 10 am to 5pm
Or by appointment.

Please contact us for further information.