The Haitian Primitives (1950s)

[Music] in the warm blue setting of the caribbean lies the island of haiti rugged in aspect friendly in disposition and unique in culture haiti whose capital porto prance wears a proud mantle of modern architecture as it moves forward through the 20th century this is the black republic and it wears its name with pride but it is in the marketplace rather than on the broad avenues that the unique qualities of haitian life can be discerned this is a thoroughly individual nation its life patterns have been woven of diverse threads the african tribe the teeming slave ship the french plantation the rebellious masses the independent people here life overflows with enormous vitality with rhythm color humor and grace there is a dynamic quality in haitian life which cannot be silenced and it expresses itself in multiple ways [Music] [Applause] [Music] music it's as basic as breathing the very heartbeat of haiti dancing it is inevitable in this land where rhythm runs too deep to be contained and most recently the visual arts a glorious new outlet for a people possessing so fresh a sense of color and design such vitality and humor such clarity and originality of perception haitian painting is the expression of a people who must be heard it's an expression which has won the acclaim of the whole world but always its roots remain purely and deeply set in the haitian earth the world-renowned haitian artists live as one with their people often they are uneducated and unaware of their lofty status in the art world they are primarily primitive painters capturing life on canvas as they see it distorting unintentionally violating rules of which they are unaware castera basil is an outstanding haitian primitive who began as a houseboy to dewitt peters the man who discovered and nurtured haitian art brazil is largely self-taught he is an artist with a deep dramatic sense who has carried his sensitive richly colorful style to a high point of achievement rigo benoit is another artist of originality with an international reputation as a haitian primitive he came to dewitt peters in 1945 with a small painting and asked two dollars for it today everything has changed except the man himself he remains shy sensitive and the possessor of a lovely lyrical style this is the home of wilson bego perhaps the most brilliant and technically advanced of the haitian primitives bego was brought to dewitt peters in 1946 and was put in an art class for children where he revealed extraordinary talent bego's work is sharp and vivid he is a realist who delights in illustrating haitian life his canvases possess a stature and a universal appeal which mark him as a developing master [Music] the treasure house of haitian art thanks to the courage and foresight of bishop alfred vogeli is holy trinity cathedral of the episcopal church in haiti bishop vogeli commissioned the haitian primitives to decorate the walls of this house of worship not since the italian renaissance has there been a church so richly endowed by the brushes of reverent men of genius striving to give faith a visual dimension [Music] under the direction of dewitt peters and seldon rodman of the santo dart the apps of the cathedral was painted first with a crucifixion of christ painted over the altar by philomay oban [Music] to its right was painted and ascension by castera basil rendered in the monumental style that so characterizes this artist in the left panel of the apps rigo benoit painted a nativity in his essentially decorative style laboring with intense care on the tiniest details of his work [Music] with the apps completed the project was unable to go forward when an american philanthropist visited the cathedral took one look and promised five thousand dollars on the spot now a marriage feast of cana was done by wilson bego one of the most remarkable murals ever painted in the western hemisphere the painting is permeated with a profound religious conviction although it contains a wealth of documentary detail here at this biblical marriage feast are the slaughtered pig and the squabbling chickens of the haitian farm at this biblical feast there is the politician recognizable because he is the only guest able to afford a new pair of shoes for this haitian primitive painter no feast is possible anywhere without drums indeed there is a complete haitian band present bearing their indigenous instruments and naturally they play with gusto the forces of good and evil are present there is the chicken thief and the pursuing arm of the law among those present at bigo's remarkable marriage feast are a rich cross-section of haitian life characters earthy and real and yet rising from their midst is that magnificent figure which is of life and yet beyond it the very presence of whom makes this a profound piece of christian art inspired by a genuine passion [Music] another arresting primitive painting is two cent august's flight into egypt there is a quality of reverence and quiet naivete about this work which impresses the visitor to the cathedral the figures of joseph and mary are drawn with childlike innocence and simplicity and yet the faces are unforgettable august in his pastoral mood gives us a sheep with a human face and never having seen a camel gives us his personal conception of one what should the camel have carried into egypt august obviously wasn't sure [Music] in the chapel and south transept the panorama of paintings continues against a background of haitian houses a visitation wherein the visited was so startled that she dropped her watering can [Music] a brilliantly colored and lyrical annunciation the symbol of a spider web marks the presence of the devil in an exotic treatment of the temptation of our lord another childlike conception by toussaint auguste dreamlike and yet movingly sincere the temptation of adam and eve in the garden of eden with an incredible but memorable satan at work in the north transept of the cathedral there are three additional works the last supper by the more restrained and disciplined genius of philomena another work by castera bazil christ casting out the money changers there is a quality of violent mood and action a capturing of the drama of the moment that marks this mural as an outstanding work finally one of the crowning achievements of the decoration of holy trinity cathedral the baptism of our lord the third mural by castera basil here at the waterfall where the great event occurs haitians launder and carry baskets caught by the artist in monumental positions common people assuming an heroic stature and yet despite the solidity of the figures the work is a flowing thing poetic in composition delicately rendered it is another great achievement in religious art another masterpiece produced by the haitian primitives the historic project at the cathedral goes on as haitian artists are given the opportunity to create works to be permanently exhibited in a public place works that will never be sold or leave the land a primitive sculptor has been commissioned to do three ceramic windows and to decorate the choir gallery with sculptured bricks this is the work of another man of the people self-taught patient humble it is magnificent although jasmine joseph doesn't think so he has simply expressed himself in the only way he knows through his fingers and since it is the saints of whom his fingers have spoken they have spoken with reverence [Music] haitian art was born on that unique island but it belongs to the world through the veneer of its primitivism lie beauty and truth for all mankind to see and thereby grow enriched in spirit you