Tony Scherman (1950 - 2023) is one of the most distinctive Canadian artists. He is renowned internationally for his work, typically executed in encaustic, a mix of wax and oil (one of the most difficult mediums to work in).
Working in encaustic, the artist continues a practice mastered through art history by diverse canonical artists such as Pieter Claesz, Caravaggio, and Cézanne.
Throughout his illustrious and dynamic career, Scherman frequently idealized female portraits; characters from antiquity to contemporary pop culture.
"Oedipus Rex" is an ancient text by Sophocles that recounts the brutal and carnal stories of this sinister and tragic royal family. Since its publication nearly 2500 years ago, it has inspired an astonishing number of interpretations by an array of artists ranging from Ingres to Ralph Fiennes to Voltaire.
"The Seduction of Oedipus: Jocasta" stands out as one of Scherman's most important and iconic motifs. The painting features a close-cropped portrait of a masked Jocasta, Oedipus' mother, a recurring character that Scherman continuously revisited throughout his career.
Scherman expertly portrays Jocasta with rich, textured layers of brushwork and delicate licks of color, inviting the viewer into her complex inner world through unwavering gaze.
Scherman’s work can be found in nearly every public collection in Canada, as well as many international museums including LACMA (Los Angeles) and Centre Pompidou (Paris).
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"The Seduction of Oedipus: Jocasta"
Canada, 1998
Encaustic on canvas
Signed and dated by the artist, verso
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