A Life of Theory and Form
Rodolphe de Repentigny was a multifaceted Canadian artist, painter, and critic. Born in Montreal, Canada, he pursued studies in mathematics and psychology at the University of Montreal before traveling to Paris to study literature and philosophy at Sorbonne University. It was during his time in Paris that he became interested in non-figurative art. Upon returning to Montreal, he worked as a journalist, providing art and literary criticism for the newspaper La Presse.
In the mid-1950s, he became a central figure in the movement known as Les Plasticiens, a group that included Louis Belzile, Jean-Paul Jérôme, and Fernand Toupin. Under the pseudonym Jauran, he authored the Manifeste des plasticiens in 1955. His artistic practice was characterized by a pursuit of hard-edge geometric abstraction, a style that stood in contrast to the Automatism of his contemporaries.
Artistic Evolution and Legacy
De Repentigny's creative journey saw him transition from painting to exploring photography and creating abstract works on glossy photo paper. He was deeply involved in the institutional development of the arts in Quebec, helping to found The Non-Figurative Artists' Association of Montreal and serving as its secretary in 1956. He also held the position of President of the Association of International Critics Canada.
His life was cut short during a mountaineering trip in the Rockies, when he fell into a crevasse while crossing the Victoria Glacier. He left behind a significant body of work regarding art criticism and aesthetics. His paintings are held in notable collections, including:
