El Bote (The Boat)

Cornelis Jacominus Zitman, artist

1926–2016

El Bote (The Boat), circa 1950

Where object was made: Venezuela

Material/technique: canvas; acrylic

Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 75.1 x 99.6 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 29 5/8 x 39 3/16 in

Credit line: Bequest of Donald Hatch in memory of Mary Bole Hatch to the University of Kansas. On deposit to the Spencer Museum of Art from the School of Architecture and Urban Design.

Accession number: 1980.0200

Not on display

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Dutch artist Cornelis Zitman fled to Venezuela in 1947 after being drafted and in opposition to the Netherlands’ occupation of Indonesia. Zitman developed a rounded style and narrowed his focus to the Indigenous people of Venezuela as subjects. His stylized figures became even more exaggerated. The vivid white highlights in El Bote suggest a sunny day, but the painting is dark, with stark shadows and strong contrasts. In the background, the distant figures look almost ghostly.