Market Day in the Square

A charming mid-century Naïve style street scene that captures the rhythm and warmth of a local European town square on market day, executed in oil onto board and dated 1957.

The composition presents a bustling yet orderly gathering of figures amid open stalls and sunlit awnings, set against the backdrop of a grand building with a steep red roof and tall chimney that anchors the composition.

Executed in a naïve, folk-modernist style, the figures are rendered with simplified forms and minimal detail. The artist has used flat, blocky colour planes with earthy ochres, deep forest greens, navy blues, and brick reds, punctuated by soft greys and muted yellows in the cobbled square and overcast sky.

Brushstrokes are direct and purposeful, with little blending. A defining feature of this work is the use of deep blue outlines – used not only to demarcate figures, umbrellas, and building edges, but also to bring coherence and rhythm to the composition. These cobalt contours give the scene an illustrative quality, emphasising form over detail.

Overall, this work balances architectural geometry with the spontaneity of human life and community.

This oil on board is housed in a complementary wood frame with an inner linen border. The painting is in excellent vintage condition. The frame has minor scuffs. 

Size: 50.5 x 58.5 cm (including frame)