Armand Tatossian (1951–2012) was a Canadian-Armenian painter celebrated for his bold compositions, dynamic brushwork, and vivid use of colour. A prodigious talent, he became one of the youngest members ever elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts at the age of 25. Marine, painted around 1980, is a striking example of his mature style. In this coastal scene, Tatossian captures the energy of the seascape through sweeping, impasto strokes and a modernist palette. The composition balances abstraction and representation, with churning water and shoreline structures emerging from richly textured surfaces and rhythmic movement.

Tatossian trained in Paris at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, where he was influenced by both classical European techniques and modernist experimentation. His early inspiration came from the French Impressionists, the Canadian landscape tradition, and Armenian art, all of which he synthesized into a distinctively expressive and structured style. In Marine, his love of architecture, motion, and natural form converge, with luminous hues and sculptural paintwork creating a scene full of vitality and atmosphere.

Tatossian’s work was widely exhibited in major Canadian and international venues, including the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, the Musée du Québec (now the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec), and galleries across Montreal, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. His artistic career overlapped with significant figures such as Jean-Paul Riopelle, sharing an affinity for expressive gesture and modern form. Marine reflects Tatossian’s ability to bridge heritage and innovation, and stands as a powerful example of late 20th-century Canadian art rooted in both personal vision and cultural connection.