Kesnel Franklin 20"x24" Haitian Dice Game Scene c1979 Oil on Canvas Unframed Painting #1ML
Kesnel Franklin 20"x24" Haitian Dice Game Scene c1979 Oil on Canvas Unframed Painting #1ML
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Description
Description
Franklin’s masterful handling of chiaroscuro heightens the atmosphere, with warm lamplight illuminating faces and shirts in vibrant reds, yellows, and blues against a darkened architectural backdrop. The composition draws the viewer directly into the circle of participants, emphasizing community, social ritual, and shared experience. The expressive brushwork and simplified anatomical modeling align with the evolution of late 20th-century Haitian figurative painting, where narrative storytelling is reinforced through bold color harmonies and dramatic tonal contrast. Signed lower left and dated 1979, this work represents a strong example of Franklin’s genre scenes depicting everyday Haitian life. The intimate scale enhances its immediacy, while the carefully orchestrated arrangement of figures conveys movement, suspense, and camaraderie. The painting is in good condition and is offered unframed. It is sourced from a private collector in Ontario, Canada, and will ship directly from Canada.
About this artist
About this artist
Kesnel Franklin (1945–1978) was a Haitian painter celebrated for vivid narrative compositions inspired by Haitian culture, daily life, and Vodou spirituality. Born in Aux Cayes, Haiti on June 24, 1945, Franklin began painting at an early age and quickly developed a fascination with the Vodou religion, which became a defining influence throughout his artistic career. His popularity grew after studying at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, where he trained under Gérome Rempin and the renowned Haitian master Pétion Savain. Franklin’s work is distinguished by its rhythmic movement, bold color palette, and storytelling quality. His paintings often depict dancers, musicians, ceremonial gatherings, and spiritual scenes rendered with expressive energy and symbolic depth. Combining disciplined composition with folkloric vitality, Franklin created works that bridge Haitian tradition with a modern visual sensibility. Although his life was cut short in 1978, Kesnel Franklin remains an important figure in 20th-century Haitian art. His paintings continue to attract collectors worldwide for their authenticity, cultural richness, and spiritual resonance, making his work highly sought after in the market for Haitian and Caribbean modern art.
