The stained glass mural L’histoire de la musique à Montréal, unveiled in the Place-des-Arts Metro station on December 20, 1967, marked the first artistic commission for the Montreal subway system. This installation reflected the multifaceted career of the French-Canadian artist who balanced technical illustration for television with a rigorous commitment to independent animated film production.
Early Development and Migration
Born in Saarbrücken in 1924, he spent his youth in Strasbourg before his family relocated to Paris as the Second World War commenced. His formal education included studies at the École Estienne and the École régionale des beaux-arts de Rennes. Following his debut exhibition at the 1946 Salon de la Marine, he accepted an invitation from Ghylaine Paquin to relocate to Canada in 1948. The two married the following year, and he briefly held a teaching position at the École des beaux-arts.
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In 1952, he began a long-term professional association with Radio-Canada, the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. His responsibilities initially focused on creating titles for television programming. His professional portfolio expanded in 1964, when he provided illustrations for the National Film Board of Canada documentary Samuel de Champlain, directed by Denys Arcand. He remained an employee of the broadcaster throughout his career.
Cinematic Achievements
His filmography garnered international critical attention through the Academy Awards. He received his first nomination for the 1980 film All Nothing (Tout rien). He subsequently won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film: Crac! in 1982 and The Man Who Planted Trees in 1987. Additional nominations included The Mighty River in 1994. His original moving image collection is presently held at the Academy Film Archive.
Activism and Institutional Recognition
Beyond his artistic practice, he maintained a public profile as a vegetarian and animal rights advocate, establishing the Société Québécoise pour la Défense des Animaux. His contributions were recognized through numerous state honors, including appointment as a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 1989 and Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990. He received the Prix Albert-Tessier in 1991 and a Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1994.
Fast facts
- Born: 1924, Saarbrücken
- Died: December 24, 2013, Montreal
- Citizenship: Canada and France
- Academy Award Wins: 2 (1982, 1988)
- Significant Public Work: L’histoire de la musique à Montréal mural
- Key Activism: Founded Société Québécoise pour la Défense des Animaux
- Notable Recognition: Officer of the Order of Canada
Questions readers ask
How many Academy Awards did Frédéric Back win?
He won two Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film, one in 1982 for Crac! and another in 1988 for The Man Who Planted Trees.
What was the subject of his first commissioned public art for the Montreal Metro?
His 1967 mural titled L’histoire de la musique à Montréal depicted the history of music in the city.
Achievements
- Officer of the Order of Canada
- Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film — 1988
- Knight of the National Order of Quebec
- Worked as animator, film director and screenwriter