Family Feeling 

Norval Morrisseau’s ‘Family Feeling’ presents a vibrant composition, its formal qualities immediately striking. The artist employs bold outlines and flat, unmodulated fields of color to define the figures of a woman, children, and a bird, all set against a backdrop bisected by contrasting hues. The shapes are simplified, almost emblematic, drawing our attention to their symbolic roles rather than realistic representation. The interplay of color in ‘Family Feeling’ is particularly potent, as the bright yellows, greens, blues, and reds create a visual rhythm that reinforces the interconnectedness of the figures. Morrisseau challenges conventional perspective, flattening the picture plane and arranging the figures in a way that emphasizes their shared space and emotional bonds. This rejection of traditional artistic norms can be viewed through a structuralist lens, questioning fixed notions of representation and spatial relations. Consider how the use of color and line works within a semiotic system to convey meaning. Morrisseau is not just depicting a family, but also invoking cultural codes and spiritual values. The painting, in its formal construction, serves as a site for ongoing interpretation, inviting us to consider how visual elements can simultaneously evoke personal emotions and broader cultural narratives.