Born on November 1, 1905, in St. Hilaire (Qué.), Paul-Émile Borduas first worked as an apprentice with Ozias Leduc who taught him painting and art history. In 1923, he registered at École des beaux-arts de Montréal where he obtained a teaching diploma. In 1937, he became a teacher at École du meuble. Over the years, he founded with his students the Automatiste Movement. After presenting his first non-figurative painting attempts in 1942, Paul-Émile Borduas wrote the famous Refus global manifesto whose publication in 1948 affected all spheres of Quebec intellectual activity then. His commitment and talent made him one of the most important post-war artists.