Market Day Under the Sun

A mid-century modernist oil painting that captures the quiet charm of a sunlit village square on market day, executed in oil onto board.

In the foreground, a vendor stands beside a rustic wooden cart laden with fresh produce, partially shaded by a large parasol. Additional market stalls, some  green canopies, dot the square, their displays adding splashes of red, orange, and green to the scene. Figures move leisurely among the stalls, their forms simplified yet expressive, lending an almost timeless quality to the market’s atmosphere.

The artist has used a modernist sensibility, with strong compositional contrasts between light and shadow. Sunlight spills across the cobblestones, casting deep angular shadows, while the muted facades of surrounding buildings form a subdued backdrop, allowing the market activity to take centre stage. The palette is warm and harmonious –  sandy orange, terracotta, soft greys, and earthy greens – with vibrant bursts of colour in the produce.

Brushstrokes are confident and broad, with areas of flat, blended colour offset by more textured, visible strokes in the umbrellas and produce. The treatment is painterly –  focusing on shape, light, and atmosphere rather than fine detail.

Size:  45.5 x 64 cm (including frame)