"Haitian Island Scene with Fishermen" - Fritz Lamothe

In this oil and wax on Masonite painting, Haitian artist Fritz Lamothe renders a scene of village life in Haiti using his signature technique of applying matte layers of jewel-like color, then scratching through the paint to depict linier details. The result is an expansive scene of the of the sea, rendered in a dreamlike, milky blue that stretches across the horizon. The coastal life takes place within this serene environment with a tender simplicity. Small, scoop-hulled fishing boats, their sails like bright white wings against the vast expanse of cerulean, float as if suspended in an luminous haze. Fishermen with black skin and plain features work their vessels at the sandy shore. On the distant, sloped bank, the land rises, dotted with tropical trees and simple, pastel-toned cottages. The air itself seems muted and soft, a veil of pale wash pulled across the world, creating a moment suspended between wakefulness and dream. The painting is ready to hang in a rustic, wood frame with linen liner.