Mujeres con Girasoles (Women with Sunflowers)
Painting on canvas • Modern Dominican School; signed lower right (illegible in high-detail, resembles 'M. L.')
Style & Movement
Caribbean Naïve/Folk Art (Costumbrismo style)
Medium & Technique
Acrylic on canvas utilizing heavy impasto and textural modeling for the sunflowers and palm tree outlines.
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century (c. 1990–2010)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 36 inches; horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
The painting depicts two Afro-Caribbean women wearing traditional sun hats and flowing dresses, harvesting or tending to a field of sunflowers. The background features stylized palm trees carved into the texture of the paint. The composition uses a flat perspective and vibrant colors typical of Dominican market art.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; the canvas appears taut and colors are vibrant, though there is minor surface dust and potential light craquelure in thickened impasto areas.
Estimated Market Value
$200.00 – $500.00 USD
Auction Estimate
$150.00 – $350.00 USD
Provenance History
Acquired by current owner in the Dominican Republic; likely purchased from a local gallery or artisan market catering to tourists and local collectors.
Art Historical Significance
This piece represents the vibrant 'Naïve' tradition of the Dominican Republic, which often focuses on idyllic rural life and the celebration of African heritage through daily labor. While likely produced for the decorative market, it reflects the broader 'Costumbrismo' movement in Latin American art.
Notable Features
Heavy textural 'sculptural' quality in the sunflowers and palm silhouettes; presented in a dark-stained faux-bamboo wooden frame characteristic of regional Caribbean framing styles.
Condition Issues
Minor surface accumulation; some evidence of mechanical stress near the frame edges; standard aging of acrylic pigments.
Conservation Recommendations
Light cleaning with a soft brush to remove dust from impasto relief; keep away from direct sunlight to prevent pigment fading; professional reframing if the wood-imitation frame shows signs of acidity.
Collector Notes
Purchased in the Dominican Republic