IMAGE CONVENTIONS IN MORRISSEAU’S ART

Lines of Power:  Figures of animals and people may show “lines of power” radiating from heads or bodies.  They are short lines whose variations in length and intensity indicate the quality of the power.  They can both transmit and receive information.

Lines of Communication:  Animals and people are joined with these flowing lines which indicate relationships.  They reflect the artist’s perception of the nature of the interdependence.

Lines of Prophecy:  Some creatures of power may have frond-like curling lines issuing from their mouths.  They mean more than ordinary speech.  They are an indication of prophecy, often associated with shaman talk.

Lines of Movement:  These are very short lines which show important physical movement near an organ (heart) or a shaking tent.

The Divided Circle:  Morrisseau makes repeated use of the “divided circle”, often showing several in one painting.  Usually, they are connected with the main image by lines of communication.  This symbol carries a great deal of meaning.  It represents all of the dualities present in Morrisseau’s view of the world.  They may be good and evil, heaven and earth, day and night.

X-Ray Decoration:  This term describes the artist’s depiction of inner structures for animals and persons.  These structures may show internal organs such as the heart or womb.  They may show representations of inner spiritual life. Clothing is seldom indicated and then is usually elaborate robes or costumes.

Use of Colour:  Colour is very important in Morrisseau’s art.  For most of his career he has painted with unmixed acrylics.  Morrisseau believes that colour reflects an inner reality.  It also transmits a harmony through nature to the material world.  For Morrisseau colour placement is intuitive.

[Note: The above information has been paraphrased from -  Lister Sinclair, and Jack Pollock, The Art of Norval Morrisseau. (Toronto: Methuen, 1979) 51-58.]