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Woman with a Mandolin (Femme à la mandoline), 1941

Painting by Paul-Émile Borduas, done in a Cubist style, of a woman playing a mandolin with her breasts exposed. In the background is a decorative pattern made of green diamond shapes.

Paul-Émile Borduas, Woman with a Mandolin (Femme à la mandoline), 1941, oil on canvas, 81.3 x 65 cm, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal.

The subject of this painting can easily be traced back to the Cubists. A version by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), Girl with a Mandolin (Fanny Tellier), 1910, pictures the subject in monochrome. The visual planes blend and collapse, combining abstract frontal and profile views. Borduas does not go quite as far. He poses his wife, Gabrielle, and—by exposing her breasts—reveals the underlying erotic subject of the theme: a woman awaking to love by a man’s caresses, just as a mandolin emits music when it is strummed.

Gallery

Painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of a sparrow hawk with its wings outstretched. It is standing on top of a dead seagull on a rocky shore with water and hills in the background.

Study of a Sparrow Hawk in a Decorative Landscape (Étude d’un épervier dans un paysage ornemental), c.1923–24

Painting by Paul-Émile Borduas, done in a Cubist style, of a woman playing a mandolin with her breasts exposed. In the background is a decorative pattern made of green diamond shapes.

Woman with a Mandolin (Femme à la mandoline), 1941

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas made of large green and white brushstrokes surrounded by red and black, evoking an open mouth.

Green Abstraction (Abstraction verte), 1941

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of curvy overlapping shapes in grey, yellow, and blue that come together to resemble a female torso.

Study for Torso or No. 14 (Étude de torse ou N°14), 1942

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of thick vertical strokes of red and green paint appearing to float on top of a brown and blue background.

Leeward of the Island or 1.47 (Sous le vent de l’île ou 1.47), 1947

Abstract watercolour painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of overlapping organic shapes, painted in grey, with areas of red stripes to create depth.

The West Wing Brings Porcelain Chinoiseries (Le vent d’ouest apporte des chinoiseries de porcelaine), 1950

Abstract wooden sculpture by Paul-Émile Borduas of a tall, thin figure with a block head and arms clasped as if in prayer.

The Nun (La religieuse), 1951

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of randomly placed brown, black, and yellow brushstrokes on a white background.

Blossoming (Épanouissement), 1956

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of large textured spots of black paint on top of a white background. One small diamond-shaped spot of black paint is above the others, centered near the top of the frame.

The Black Star (L’étoile noire), 1957

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of large areas textured black spots with a white background peeking through.

Composition 69, 1960

Painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of a sparrow hawk with its wings outstretched. It is standing on top of a dead seagull on a rocky shore with water and hills in the background.

Study of a Sparrow Hawk in a Decorative Landscape (Étude d’un épervier dans un paysage ornemental), c.1923–24

Painting by Paul-Émile Borduas, done in a Cubist style, of a woman playing a mandolin with her breasts exposed. In the background is a decorative pattern made of green diamond shapes.

Woman with a Mandolin (Femme à la mandoline), 1941

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas made of large green and white brushstrokes surrounded by red and black, evoking an open mouth.

Green Abstraction (Abstraction verte), 1941

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of curvy overlapping shapes in grey, yellow, and blue that come together to resemble a female torso.

Study for Torso or No. 14 (Étude de torse ou N°14), 1942

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of thick vertical strokes of red and green paint appearing to float on top of a brown and blue background.

Leeward of the Island or 1.47 (Sous le vent de l’île ou 1.47), 1947

Abstract watercolour painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of overlapping organic shapes, painted in grey, with areas of red stripes to create depth.

The West Wing Brings Porcelain Chinoiseries (Le vent d’ouest apporte des chinoiseries de porcelaine), 1950

Abstract wooden sculpture by Paul-Émile Borduas of a tall, thin figure with a block head and arms clasped as if in prayer.

The Nun (La religieuse), 1951

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas of randomly placed brown, black, and yellow brushstrokes on a white background.

Blossoming (Épanouissement), 1956

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of large textured spots of black paint on top of a white background. One small diamond-shaped spot of black paint is above the others, centered near the top of the frame.

The Black Star (L’étoile noire), 1957

Abstract painting by Paul-Émile Borduas consisting of large areas textured black spots with a white background peeking through.

Composition 69, 1960

Woman with a Mandolin (Femme à la mandoline) - Art Canada