B.A Smith (XX) - Colour market scene

The painting depicts a vibrant, densely populated marketplace scene.

In the foreground, there is an abundant display of fruits and vegetables: sliced watermelon, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, squash, citrus, and other produce. The forms are rounded and stylized rather than realistic. The colors are bold and saturated — deep greens, bright yellows, intense reds, vivid pinks — creating immediate visual impact.

Behind the produce stands a tightly packed crowd of figures filling almost the entire pictorial space. The people are shown standing close together, often slightly bent forward or turned in profile. Their faces are simplified and stylized, with elongated features and calm, introspective expressions.

Clothing plays a major visual role: bright dresses and shirts in yellow, pink, blue, green, and white create rhythm and repetition across the composition. Many figures wear head coverings or hats. The background is dark, which enhances the brightness of the clothing and produce.

There is little to no academic perspective. Depth is compressed; figures and objects exist almost on the same visual plane. This flattening of space, combined with strong color blocks and repetition of forms, places the work clearly within a naïve or modern primitive aesthetic.

The painting is signed in the lower right corner: B.A. Smith.


Documented information about an artist signed B.A. Smith is limited and not firmly established in academic sources.

Works bearing this signature are typically associated with naïve-style paintings depicting markets, rural life, and communal scenes, often linked to Caribbean or Haitian artistic traditions. However, reliable biographical records — such as confirmed birth/death dates, formal training, or institutional affiliations — are scarce.

What can be stated cautiously:
   •   Likely active during the second half of the 20th century
   •   Associated with naïve / primitive-style painting
   •   Recurring themes: marketplaces, community life, tropical settings
   •   Strong use of vivid color and flattened perspective
   •   Presence mainly on the decorative and secondary art market

Because documentation is limited, attribution and historical placement should be approached carefully. Like many artists working in naïve traditions, recognition appears to be based more on circulating works than on formal archival documentation.