Erzuline

Bernard Séjourné

1947–1994

Erzuline, 1974

Where object was made: Haiti

Material/technique: paint; hardboard

Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 40 x 33 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 15 3/4 x 13 0.9921 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 19 1/4 x 16 1/4 x 1 in

Credit line: Mary Lou Vansant Hughes Collection

Accession number: 2011.0324

Not on display

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The Ties that Bind: Haiti, the United States, and the Art of Ulrick Jean-Pierre in Comparative Perspective

Suspended in a sea of blue, Séjourné depicts a dreamlike Erzulie La Sirène—a lwa (spirit) of motherhood and the personification of the oceans. Séjourné belonged to the School of Beauty and attempted to capture beauty, elegance, and grace in his artwork. Here, Séjourné used layered symbolism to identify La Sirène. She is depicted as a shell-like creature, a possible reference to her husband, Agwe, who is called the “Shell of the Sea.” Colors symbolic of La Sirène, blue and green, are blended around her. Visual allusions to female reproductive anatomy communicate her role as a mother and lwa of romance and sexuality. In the Vodou pantheon, Erzulie is the lwa (spirit) of art, love, romance, and sex. She has three distinct identities: mother, lover, and protector. As depicted in Séjourné’s painting, Erzulie La Sirène is the lwa of motherhood. Next, Erzulie Freda is the spirit of love and femininity. Finally, Erzulie Dantor represents jealousy and passion, and is the guardian of women and children. In all her forms, Erzulie is both adored and feared for her tremendous power.