Mikael Lepage
Dénué
Université du Québec à Montréal
Oil on canvas
122 x 91.5 cm
48 x 36 in
In the painting entitled Dénué, we see a seated man, his back turned to the viewer, wearing a shirt the wrong way around. In this enigmatic portrait, I question the role of the white shirt and its symbolism. Usually impeccably pressed and immaculately white, this garment not only embodies the ultimate masculine uniform, but it is also an indicator of social class. Wishing to go against all conventions, I took away from this garment the aura of perfection. The shirt is front to back, wrinkled and not professional-looking, perhaps the image of the man who wears it… A unique portrait that offers more questions than answers.