Fish Bird 

This is Norval Morrisseau’s “Fish Bird”, painted with acrylic on canvas. Morrisseau, an Anishinaabe artist from Canada, is known as the “Picasso of the North”, and as the founder of the “Woodland School” style. Morrisseau was one of the first Indigenous artists to break with the tradition of anonymity and sign his works. In doing so, he challenged the norms of the art market and asserted his individual agency as an artist. He also broke with Ojibwe tradition by depicting sacred stories and images that had previously been kept secret. Here, the bold colours and simplified forms create a powerful visual impact. The image can be understood as a symbolic representation of transformation and connection between the earthly and spiritual realms. Further research into Anishinaabe cosmology and the history of Indigenous art in Canada will give greater insight into the cultural and social significance of Morrisseau's work. The study of such sources makes the art historian’s role vital to understanding art as contingent on its social and institutional context.