Description:

George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013), "Waiting for Mr. Boudreaux", 1981, oil on canvas, signed lower left and en verso, 16 in. x 20 in., framed; accompanied by a copy of 1997 letter from Bertha Bernard, assistant to George Rodrigue, discussing the painting. Note: According to a 1997 letter discussing “Waiting for Mr. Boudreaux” offered here, George Rodrigue provided the title and date for the painting. With his characteristic artistic license, he also ascribed to the romantic title a story inspired by his aunt, Teen [sic] Boutte, who sat on her trunk waiting in vain for her only true love, Mr. Boudreaux, to carry her away. The true story differed slightly from the more tragic version however. Rodrigue did indeed have an aunt on his mother’s side of the family named Leontine Courregé Boutte, who was called “Aunt Tine” (misspelled in the letter) by the family and lived in Rodrigue’s hometown of New Iberia. Most likely Rodrigue did utilize a family photograph from the 1920-1930s for inspiration, a practice quite common in his work from the period. The rest of the story harkens to a legend along the lines of Evangeline waiting for her Gabriel, combined with the lead figure of most Cajun tales and a favorite of the artist, the legendary Boudreaux. Rodrigue’s interpretation of a fading era in Cajun culture combined with his modernist aesthetic in this canvas produces a timeless scene reminiscent of American master James Whistler. Completed in Rodrigue’s classic early style, the figure glows against the dark oak, clad in white from head to toe. One can only imagine that Aunt Tine, who happily married and raised a family, would have been delighted by the canvas and story she inspired. Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “Boudreaux in a Barrel. Musings of an Artist’s Wife. July 20, 2010. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed Oct. 16, 2017.

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November 18, 2017 10:00 AM CST
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