Konbit, Gerard Valcin

Artwork Overview

1925–1988
Konbit, circa 1970
Where object was made: Haiti
Material/technique: hardboard; oil
Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 51 x 61 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 20 1/16 x 24 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 23 x 27 1/4 x 2 in
Credit line: Mary Lou Vansant Hughes Collection
Accession number: 2011.0333
Not on display

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Images

Label texts

The Ties that Bind: Haiti, the United States, and the Art of Ulrick Jean-Pierre in Comparative Perspective

The proverb “anpil men chay pa lou” (with more hands, the load is lighter), lies at the heart of konbit, a Haitian Creole word that describes the practice of people helping one another prepare their fields before planting and during harvest. This unifying display of community demonstrates a collective consciousness that pervades Haitian culture, especially in farming communities, and that is exemplifed in Valcin’s striking painting. Konbit as a concept has defined Haitian life for centuries, whether during its fight for independence or more contemporary struggles, such as the 2010 earthquake.

Exhibitions