Au rancart

Claude Langevin was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1942. Though he initially pursued medical studies at the University of Montreal following in his father's and older brother's footsteps, he abandoned this path after one year to devote himself to a career in art. As a self-taught landscape artist, Langevin developed his distinctive style over four decades of painting.

Langevin settled in Sainte-Adele in the Laurentians around 1997, where he spent nearly three decades finding inspiration in the surrounding landscapes. He was particularly drawn to winter scenes, noting that snow reveals countless contrasting colors that change with light conditions and seasons. Early in his career, Langevin worked with acrylic paints and palette knife techniques, but after discovering the work of Tom Thomson and Clarence Gagnon, he transitioned to oil paints and brushes, which remained his preferred medium.

Following in the tradition of the Group of Seven, Langevin often began his process outdoors, making preliminary sketches directly from nature to capture authentic light and landscape features, before completing his works in his studio. His paintings feature bold colors, imaginative compositions, and interesting explorations of perspective. Throughout his career, he depicted scenes from throughout Quebec and the Maritimes, with a particular focus on the Charlevoix region and the Laurentians.

Langevin's work is characterized by vigorous brushstrokes and well-defined patterns with strong contrasts. Though his paintings appear spontaneous, each scene was carefully composed and drawn. His pieces are held in numerous public and private collections across Canada. Claude Langevin died on September 6, 2024, at the age of 82, leaving behind a significant body of work that contributed to the legacy of Quebec and Canadian figurative art.