Tony Scherman (1950 - 2023) is one of the most collected and cherished 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).
Scherman frequently alludes to the grandeur of Europe, both in his subject matter and his technique of painting with encaustic. The artist is continuing a tradition, of working with this material, that has been propelled through art history by a diverse number of canonical artists including Pieter Claesz, Caravaggio, and Cézanne.
"Europa's Revenge" is a fantastic example of Scherman's mastery of encaustic. The title of this impactful painting alludes to the Greek myth of Princess Europa, the love interest of Zeus, who abducted her while disguised as a bull. Zeus brought her to Crete, where Princess Europa would eventually take the throne as Queen.
Bullfighting is a popular theme in Western painting. A variety of diverse artists have explored the subject including Manet, Picasso, Elaine de Kooning and Eric Fischl.
How do we explain Scherman's interest in the subject? Based on the title, one might question the artist's interpretation of the bull: does it symbolize seduction or dominance, and if there are impending consequences for its actions. Throughout Scherman's oeuvre he has depicted animals that posses complicated symbols including the hawk, the buck, and both domestic and hunting dogs.
In this work Scherman expertly portrays the majestic animal through rich, textured layers of brushwork and delicate licks of color, emphasizing its commanding and mythical aura against a rich ochre background. It is worth mentioning that Scherman only briefly painted warm or gentle monocromatic backgrounds during the late 1990's and early 2000's. This is a dramatic paradigm from this sought-after period.
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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"Europa's Revenge"
Canada, 1998
Encaustic on canvas
Signed and dated by the artist, verso
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