In this electrifying portrait, Norval Morrisseau presents a figure in profile, adorned in full regalia, a classic motif within his celebrated body of work. The subject’s open mouth and raised hand conjure the immediacy of speech or chant, capturing a moment suspended in breath and sound. This sense of movement is heightened by Morrisseau’s dense black line work, which is both deliberate and instinctive. The lines meander and hum across the surface, guiding the viewer’s eye with a rhythm that animates rather than merely outlining the figure.

Despite the apparent spontaneity of his palette, the colour balance is intentional and assured. Saturated reds, luminous blues, and vibrant greens are set against a cool mint-blue ground, creating a visual field that both vibrates and coheres. This harmony amidst expressive freedom is a hallmark of Morrisseau’s brilliance as a colourist. The result is a work that is not only visually striking, but emotionally resonant, alive with movement, voice, and spirit.

References: For additional information on Morrisseau’s life and art see: Lister Sinclair and Jack Pollock, Norval Morrisseau, (Toronto: Methuen Publications, 1979); Greg A. Hill, et al, Norval Morrisseau: Shaman Artist, (Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2006); Armand Garnet Ruffo, Norval Morrisseau: Man Changing into Thunderbird, (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2014), and Carmen L. Robertson, Norval Morrisseau: His Life and Work, (Toronto: Art Canada Institute, 2016). The most well-known example of a headdress featured in Morrisseau’s art is the six part series Man Changing into Thunderbird, 1977, from a Private Collection, on loan to the Art Gallery of Ontario, which is reproduced in Carmen Robertson, Norval Morrisseau: His Life & Work, (Toronto: Art Canada Institute, 2016), p. 30 and elsewhere.