DESCRIPTION
Jean Paul Riopelle (1923 - 2002) drew wide acclaim for his abstract works, but Riopelle’s creative genius wasn’t limited to a single medium. In the 1960s, the Montréal-born dedicated himself to sculpture, creating works of art that underscored his connection to nature. One of those sculptures, Petit hibou, is rendered in Extraordinarily High Relief (EHR) on this coin’s reverse, where a relief height of over 6 mm accentuates all the dimpled details that are attributed to the artist’s hand and creative vision.

From the Royal Canadian Mint, each EHR tribute to Jean Paul Riopelle is crafted in gold sourced exclusively from Quebec mines, making it a fitting tribute to an artist who brought global attention to Quebec art.

The ‘Riopelle100’ mark, created by Raphaël Melançon, appears on the coin courtesy of the Riopelle Foundation, in collaboration with which the coin was created.
Petit hibou, circa 1970, cast iron 1989 and 2010. Original terracotta sculpture. Bronze, lost wax casting. 12.4 x 12.4 x 4 cm. © Estate of Jean Paul Riopelle / Copyright Visual Arts - CARCC (2023).