A suggestion was made that we consider posting a tutorial to help collectors authenticate artwork. Art appraisal and authentication is a specialized field that requires a lot of study; unfortunately, for a long time this area has not been addressed in a professional manner. But that is changing…noted Haitian artist Marcel Wah has recently founded The Haitian Art Education and Appraisal Society, Inc. This website is dedicated to the cataloging of, and education about Haitian art. We are members of this society and hope that it will help bring stability to the market.

While we can’t offer a true tutorial, I can offer these pointers:

View other works by the same artist to determine if the style, subject and signature are similar to the work you are considering. Keep in mind that over an artist’s professional lifetime all these things may vary.

Subject and style - Some artists often paint many different subjects while others may only paint one subject. If an artist is known for market scenes and you are shown a landscape you need to do your research. It may be a very old painting or a newer style…or it could be a fake. Older paintings, paintings done before an artist found his style are not necessarily valued differently than the ones that he/she is known for…do your research.

Signature – Some artists have signed every painting in the same way on the same spot on the canvas. Others may have signed in different places on the canvas. Even more confusing, some have changed the way they sign over the years; changing from full name to only last name or abbreviating a part of the name. Sometimes they might date a painting, other times not. Again, do your research.

Much has been made about price and how it implies value. This is always true, but it is coupled with another valuable tool…know your source. Yes, a number of Jonathan Demme paintings went at auction for far below their expected market price. This does not imply that these paintings are not authentic. One can know and trust the source of these paintings, Jonathan Demme, a noted artist and collector with an impeccable reputation. The fact of the matter is that attendance was very low at this auction due to lack of publicity and this resulted in some very good bargains! The same cannot be said for auction sites like ebay where the integrity of the seller is not verified by an outside source. The buyer is left to judge for himself, and only has past performance and limited communication to go by. We advise caution.

Really, short of buying from the artists themselves, the best advice and the surest way to avoid costly mistakes is to:

Do your research!
Know your source!

We want to draw your attention to a problem that has become very serious for all collectors of Haitian art…forgeries!

We look at Ebay on a regular basis and see many paintings for sale that are obviously fake! These are put on the net by individuals as well as “dealers” with websites, at prices for that are truly ridiculously low. When a painting sells for a price that is too good to be true, it is time to become suspicious. These “fakes” hurt everyone…the legitimate dealers, the artists whose work is devalued, and the collector, who now owns a worthless painting.

Recently we had dinner with a very well-know Haitian artist and he told us about the “Haitian mafia,” a group of unscrupulous people in Haiti that are hiring young artists to produce these fakes. Unfortunately, Haiti has not done anything to stop these people and we see no sign of this changing in the near future.

The artist went even further when he saw a forgery of one of his paintings on Ebay. He asked the gallery that was selling the painting to remove it because he didn’t paint it and he didn’t want it sold with his name on it. The gallery never responded to him and the fake painting was sold to an unsuspecting customer.

Unfortunately, the art world has its share of disreputable people and wise buyers need to be careful when contemplating a purchase. When purchasing, know your source.

WE STAND BEHIND EVERY PAINTING THAT WE SELL!

In keeping with the tradition of providing our customers with our newest “finds”, MedaliaArt proudly introduces the Art from Brazil. You will notice that this art is similar to that from Haiti and Cuba. The artists use bold, bright colors and their styles vary from “naif” to sophisticated. Whether they be landscapes, scenes of daily life or something more abstract the works are as visually appealing, thought provoking and stimulating as their Haitian or Cuban counterparts.

MedaliaArt is ever evolving. Through the years we have been fortunate to make contacts with new and established artists from various backrounds and we proudly feature them on our site. Our expansion into the world of Brazilian art is just another way we believe we can offer our discerning customers a taste of something new. We hope you enjoy this latest addition to our inventory and invite you to share your opinions.

Our interest in, and love for, Haitian art doesn’t preclude our fascination with other Carribean art. The Carribean is home to many talented artists living in various countries. Our latest find is the art of Cuba. Due to the political issues that complicate both travel and trade between the USA and Cuba access to the art has been limited. Fortunately, we have recently become acquainted with a fellow art lover/merchant (Couleurs-Caraibes) who has access to Cuban art. Thanks to he and his partners, this wonderful, colorful, affordable art is available to us. We are proudly offering the Art Of Cuba as a way of expanding the interest of Haitian art enthusiasts towards other types of Carribean art.

You will notice that Cuban art is as boldly colorful as Haitian art. Some artists favor a style similar to cubism while others prefer a more contemporay abstract style. Still others paint traditional linear scenes of everyday life. One thing is certain, the works are eye catching, thought provoking, discussion stimulating pieces that will add dimension to any art collection.

It is important to note that in 1991, the Center for Cuban Studies sued the U.S. Treasury Department and won, thereby legalizing the sale and importation of original art from Cuba. If you purchase any of the pieces on our site MedaliaArt, it will ship from New York in 5-7 days.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the recent addition of Cuban art to our inventory.

Bob Corbett, professor at Webster University in St. Louis, MO moderates an online discussion on everything Haitian. It is an energetic, thought provoking and at times very controversial discussion group. Recently Richard Morse, owner of the Olafson Hotel in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, posted an article reflecting on his artistic pedigree and his relationships with other Haitian artists. It is a fascinating post. Of particular interest to me is a paragraph in which he describes an encounter with Fortune Gerard. I quote,

“Gerard came to see me the other day. I haven’t seen him in probably 10 years. We stood looking at each for a bit and he asked me if I wanted to buy a painting. I said no but I could tell that wasn’t why he came over. He bent over, reached into a plastic bag a pulled out a plaque. He said “They gave me this plaque”. I looked at the plaque. It was an honor and merit type thing from the Haitian Ministry of Culture and some other group. I said “did they give you any money?” He said “They said the plaque would last longer” and he chuckled.
I’ld say it was about a 250 gourde plaque. We shook hands and went our separate ways. His hands are soft but his insights are sharp. Razor sharp.”

I had to smile. I first met Gerard at a dinner party in the home of an art collector/dealer in Petion-ville a number of years ago. Also present at that dinner was another well known Haitian artist. After an incredibly delicious meal we retired to a living room where, while sitting in front of a lovely fireplace, we were treated to Gerard showing off his latest works. One by one he proudly held them up for all to see. Of course, being fans of his naif, untrained style, my friends an I were in awe as each canvas was raised. Interestingly, the other artist who’s style, in stark contrast to that of Gerard’s is much more trained , was looking at those canvasses with a much different eye. The competitive heat between those men was only surpassed by the roaring fire. Due to a language inadequacy on our part, we could only speak to Gerard through gestures and an interpreter; but it was obvious that his broad smile and proud spirit was not going to be put off by the condescending smirking of his fellow artist.

I remembered that wonderful evening as I read Morse’s words, “His hands are soft but his insights are sharp. Razor sharp.” Meeting Gerard that evening was an unforgettable experience. He is a true genius, laughing at life through his inapporpriately proportioned figures; dealing with the injustices of life through irreverent humor. After our return home we received a gift from Gerard - a painting depicting the dinner party! In his incredible, naif, haunting style, using primary colors he portrayed each dinner guest including the dog. That painting is a real treasure which captures that memorable moment and brings a smile to my face every time I look at it.

Haitian art has been traditionally known for it’s depiction of everyday life in bright, bold colors. Some would say that the first generation artists were “primitive” or “naif”. Others argue that those descriptions are racist and that in fact “untrained” would be a more appropriate way to define them. Today experts still debate whether Selden Rodman and DeWitt Peters started the “renaissance” of Haitian art or whether they just helped the artist’s with materials and markets they would not otherwise have. Furthermore, some galleries and collectors will argue as to whether or not new and emerging artists have evolved enough to be included in their exhibits. Whichever side you choose, whatever your opinion, it is evident that today Haitian art has evolved and offers a multitude of genre’s from which collectors can choose.

I am of the opinion that one never knows when the next Bigaud or Carlo Jean-Jacques will appear! (Two of my favorites!) It excites me to see all the old and all the new. Haitian artists seem to always reinvent their styles and that’s what makes them so exciting. “Some, voluntarily or not, do keep the primary style. Some have the ability to capture light proving to be as impressionist as the old masters. Some, expressionists, very bold with colors, may reach at times the blatency of Fauvism. Others play with shapes and lines, flirting with the modern and post-modern currents.” (Dr. Jean-Robert Leonidas, physician and author, Preface I, Haitian Artists in America, 1997) It is interesting and awe inspiring to see just how the Haitian art world continues to evolve.

Two contemporary emerging young Haitian artists that paint in a variety of styles are Jean Idelus Edme and Lesly Cetout. Edme offers jungle scenes, market scenes and landscapes in a typical naif style and then offers other themes in a more classic/contemporary style. His ability to be that diverse reflects his incredible talent and the reason for his ever growing popularity. Lesly Cetout paints abstracts, portraits and street scenes. When you look at their work you can see how they may have incorporated techniques from other’s styles. Years ago, artists such as these would have had limited exposure but thanks to today’s technology these young men can literally show their works to the world.

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting many Haitian artists. One clearly stands out high above the rest - Claude Dambreville. Many years ago, while on a buying trip in Haiti, my partners and I were strolling through a well known art gallery in Petion-Ville. The gallery had an exhibit featuring Claude’s works. Though we never spoke with him, we were fortunate to catch a glimpse of the master as he looked over the exhibit. Years later we had the pleasure of visiting Claude and his lovely wife Bettyna in their home in the Dominican Republic and spent much time chatting. It was a wonderful opportunity in which we really got to know this man and I realized how much more than just an artist he is!

As a young man Claude studied accounting but that never offered him a vehicle to channel his passion as did writing or painting. And so he moved forward with his two “loves” and has become a master of both. He is internationally known for his market scenes and silhouetted women. His use of shadow, light and contrasting color are his trademarks; many times mimicked by other artists.

Claude is also the author of novels, newspaper and magazine articles. Presently he has a recurring article in an online Spanish newspaper - Puertoplatadigital. Yet there is something else that sets Claude Dambreville apart from others and that is his kind spirit and gentle soul that emanate from his being. His love for his wife their children and grandchildren is ardent and evident in conversation. In his own words, “they say that Sagitarians are generally happy and always in a good mood. That describes me perfectly. I always look on the bright side of things.”