Charles B. Greul
Encyclopedia
Charles G. Greul is a Canadian
printmaker who produced images in the Northwest Coast
First Nations
art style. His most popular work was a series of black ink silk screened images on rice paper
. These images were also available in a series of postcard
booklets.
Greul was not a native himself and adopted the artistic style that he used from the First Nations
artists from British Columbia
in the Pacific northwest
. Some critics have labelled his artwork as “inaccurate representations” of Northwest Coast designs. The different First Nations
groups had their own design styles (forms, color schemes etc.) and Greul’s designs are not a match to any of these styles. Greul’s lack of authenticity
as a First Nations
artist by birth and style has contributed to a somewhat negative view of his work by some members of the art community.
Historically, the first use of silk screening by a Northwest Coast native artist occurred in 1949. Ellen Neel, a Kwakwaka'wakw
artist, had her designs screened onto cloth scarves that rapidly became commercially successful. Soon thereafter, Greul began to market his silk screen designs on rice paper. His designs sold well and were mass distributed through the Hudson's Bay Company
retail stores in the 1950s.
He was one of the first artists to see commercial success with the West-coast art style and can be credited with spurring many native artists to pursue the commercial aspect of their art. It was in part in reaction to Gruel's works that some native artists decided to begin producing silk screened works of their own, hoping to create a better understanding and appreciation of traditional Northwest Coast design.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
printmaker who produced images in the Northwest Coast
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
art style. His most popular work was a series of black ink silk screened images on rice paper
Rice paper
Rice paper usually refers to paper made from parts of the rice plant, like rice straw or rice flour. The term is also used for paper made from or containing other plants, such as hemp, bamboo or mulberry...
. These images were also available in a series of postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
booklets.
Greul was not a native himself and adopted the artistic style that he used from the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
artists from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in the Pacific northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. Some critics have labelled his artwork as “inaccurate representations” of Northwest Coast designs. The different First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
groups had their own design styles (forms, color schemes etc.) and Greul’s designs are not a match to any of these styles. Greul’s lack of authenticity
Authenticity in art
Authenticity in art has a variety of meanings related to different ways in which a work of art or an artistic performance may be considered authentic.Denis Dutton distinguishes between nominal authenticity and expressive authenticity....
as a First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
artist by birth and style has contributed to a somewhat negative view of his work by some members of the art community.
Historically, the first use of silk screening by a Northwest Coast native artist occurred in 1949. Ellen Neel, a Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw
The Kwakwaka'wakw are an Indigenous group of First Nations peoples, numbering about 5,500, who live in British Columbia on northern Vancouver Island and the adjoining mainland and islands.Kwakwaka'wakw translates as "Those who speak Kwak'wala", describing the collective nations within the area that...
artist, had her designs screened onto cloth scarves that rapidly became commercially successful. Soon thereafter, Greul began to market his silk screen designs on rice paper. His designs sold well and were mass distributed through the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
retail stores in the 1950s.
He was one of the first artists to see commercial success with the West-coast art style and can be credited with spurring many native artists to pursue the commercial aspect of their art. It was in part in reaction to Gruel's works that some native artists decided to begin producing silk screened works of their own, hoping to create a better understanding and appreciation of traditional Northwest Coast design.