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Bookmark: http://collections.flogris.org/objects-1/info/21662

Miss Dominica

c. 1936
20th Century
57 1/8 in. x 34 1/4 in.

Abram Poole, (1883–May 24, 1961)

Object Type: Painting

Medium and Support: oil on canvas

Credit Line: Florence Griswold Museum; Gift of Abram Poole, Jr.

Accession Number: 2008.3

Stunning frontal portrait of woman seated, wearing traditional dress.
Best known as a society portraitist, Poole traveled to the Caribbean island of Dominica in the winters of 1935-36 and 1936-37. There, he painted the descendants of African slaves who worked on Dominica’s banana plantations or as nurses for his infant son. Unlike Will Howe Foote’s Jamaica Native, with its jungle setting, Poole’s portraits usually focus exclusively on the sitter. Here, the artist isolates Miss Dominica against a plain background and treats her draped body as a massive triangle. The simple but powerful composition complements the woman’s serious demeanor, as do her direct gaze, formal pose, and full-length dress—perhaps a special robe worn during carnival celebrations. With an economy of means, Poole offers us a compelling portrait that hints at the island woman’s character and culture. The artist exhibited these Dominican portraits the Ferargil Gallery in New York, as well as at the Lyme Art Association.

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