Haitian Paintings

  “Why is one obliged to turn to Haiti to feel the same sovereign composure that enabled a Piero or a de la Tour, a Titian or a Poussin,a Monet or a Matisse to glory in the immediacies of the here and now without conveying any emotions of regret or fear.” Selden Rodman ,Where Art Is Joy.

DeWitt Peters an American watercolorist opened the Centre D’art in Port-au-Prince in 1944 with the purpose of teaching art. To his absolute astonishment he soon realized that talented artists like Hector Hyppolite (discovered by Phillipe Thoby Marcelin the Haitian novelist), Philome Obin and Georges Liautaud were already creating art for a limited and modest clientele.

The Centre D’Art soon created a much needed Haitian Art market by helping the artists sell their work to a rich clientele of American and European collectors and curators.

Soon untrained talent became evident all over. DeWitt's House keeper became the famous painter Castera Bazile. Jasmin Joseph a clay sculptor soon gave up sculpture to become one of the most famous Haitian painters. Andre Pierre a Hougan started painting his visions of the loas or voodoo spirits. Rigaud Benoit the Centre D’Art’s chauffeur, had to be fired to be convinced of devoting all his time to painting.

Many more followed: Prefette Duffaut, Wilson Bigaud, Micius Stephane, Lafortune Felix, Toussaint Auguste, Salvane Philippe Auguste, the Saint Soleil artists and more.....

The boundless creativity of the Haitians has never ceased to amaze art critics and collectors around the world and to this day the miracle of Haitian Art prevails.

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