Konbit

Gerard Valcin, artist

1925–1988

Konbit, circa 1970

Where object was made: Haiti

Material/technique: hardboard; oil

Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 51 x 61 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 20 1/16 x 24 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 23 x 27 1/4 x 2 in

Credit line: Mary Lou Vansant Hughes Collection

Accession number: 2011.0333

Not on display

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Collection Cards: STEM

This painting shows a group of Haitian farmers working together in a coumbite. A coumbite is a group of people working cooperatively to farm the land. Working in the fields can be physically hard and take many hours. To keep their spirits up, workers listen to the music of the vaccine, a horn made of bamboo that creates a rhythmic sound and makes the workers feel united. Look closely to see the two men playing vaccines. The repeated pattern created by the spiky leaves of the plants also represents a sense of rhythm and harmony in this painting.

What are some other examples of people working together?
What kinds of tools or machines do people use to do this work?
What helps keep you motivated and focused when you work?

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

The proverb “anpil men chay pa lou” (with more hands, the load is lighter), lies at the heart of konbit, a Haitian Creole word that describes the practice of people helping one another prepare their fields before planting and during harvest. This unifying display of community demonstrates a collective consciousness that pervades Haitian culture, especially in farming communities, and that is exemplifed in Valcin’s striking painting. Konbit as a concept has defined Haitian life for centuries, whether during its fight for independence or more contemporary struggles, such as the 2010 earthquake.

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

The proverb “anpil men chay pa lou” (with more hands, the load is lighter), lies at the heart of konbit, a Haitian Creole word that describes the practice of people helping one another prepare their fields before planting and during harvest. This unifying display of community demonstrates a collective consciousness that pervades Haitian culture, especially in farming communities, and that is exemplifed in Valcin’s striking painting. Konbit as a concept has defined Haitian life for centuries, whether during its fight for
independence or more contemporary struggles, such as the 2010 earthquake.