We could not resist this quirky Haitian folk art painting - so colourful and charmingly naive. This collectable painting is by listed artist Theard Aladin, is on canvas, framed in a simple rustic fruitwood frame also hand made in Haiti. The subject matter is a wedding at a local church with the bride and groom looking on, children peeking around walls and corners and two very unusual red cars on either side of the scene. Note everyones' big eyes! Typical of the artist. The painting is full of character - and a tells a story. Signed lower right - Theard Alaidin 93. Two pencil signatures on the back of the wood frame. Enjoy looking at this piece. See biography below of this listed artist. L28" H24.5", D1".
Theard Aladin (October 12, 1925 – August 17, 1993) was a Haitian self-taught artist, known as an outsider, noted for his artwork depicting Haitian life and use of bright colours in paintings.
From Jacmel, southern coast of Haiti. After working as a stonemason and farmer for many years, Aladin suffered a serious back injury in 1983. For months he supported his family by doing odd jobs around Jacmel, but in fall of 1984, he had a dream in which he was told that he was an artist. The very next day, he began his first painting. He worked closely with other Haitian artists until 1987. The subject matter of his paintings was typically scenes of working-class Haitians.
He was a cousin to the renowned Haitian painters Prefete Duffaut and Pauleus Vital. He painted in the company of a group of other artists - Maurice Vital, Martino Gabriel and Lorcin Vital, as well as the son of Pauleus, Edouard Vital.
His work is included in various galleries and exhibitions including "The Jonathan Demme Collection of Self-Taught Art" (2014) at Material Culture Gallery in Philadelphia. Aladin's artwork has been featured in various books and was mentioned in the book Latin American and Caribbean Artists of the Modern Era: A Biographical Dictionary which said he was "noted for his colourful naive compositions depicting Haitian life, ceremonies and political statements. Theard was an 'unschooled naive' - Naivist School. His paintings are innocent and charming, as was he and are now collected.
