Refus global

Refus global is a 1948 Quebec artistic manifesto associated with the Automatiste movement and chiefly written by painter Paul-Émile Borduas.

Refus global is a 1948 Quebec artistic manifesto associated with the Automatiste movement and chiefly written by painter Paul-Émile Borduas. Published in Montreal, it rejected traditional Catholic and conservative values in Quebec and became a landmark text in the province’s cultural history. It is often linked to the intellectual and artistic currents that later influenced the Quiet Revolution.

Origins

Refus global was produced by members of the Montreal-based Automatistes, an avant-garde group working in painting, dance, writing, theatre, design, and related arts. The manifesto accompanied the movement’s broader artistic and intellectual project.

Content and themes

The manifesto attacked the dominance of Catholicism, social conservatism, and restrictive cultural norms in mid-20th-century Quebec. It argued for artistic freedom, spontaneity, and a more open intellectual life.

Publication and reception

The text was launched in Montreal on 9 August 1948 and quickly generated public controversy. Its publication contributed to professional and political tensions for several signatories, including Borduas.

Historical significance

Refus global is widely regarded as a landmark statement in Quebec’s cultural modernization. Later commentary has connected it to the intellectual groundwork that helped shape the Quiet Revolution.