Self-Portrait Devoured by Demons, 1964

Morrisseau made a number of self-representations over the course of his career and this is an early but powerful example of this aspect of his oeuvre. He appears to be bound by the snakes, which may suggest the uncertainty he felt as an emerging contemporary artist. Although they recall traditional stories, Morrisseau may have reinterpreted their meaning to suit his contemporary situation. As he negotiated the terrain of Canadian cultural politics, Morrisseau was clearly uncertain of his fate and he renders that sense of vulnerability here.