Haiti

The name "Haiti" comes from the Taino word for the entire island of Hispaniola, Ayiti, which reportedly means "Mountainous Land." The French staked their claim on the entire island based on the settlement of Tortuga and Gonave Islands by French pirates in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The colony was officially incorporated in the early 1600s, and by 1697, with the signing of the Treaty of Ryswick, the French were given the western third of the island, which they named Saint-Domingue (a gallicization of the Spanish name, Santo Domingo.) During this French colonial period, the colony earned the name "La Perle des Antilles" ("The Pearl of the Antilles") due to its economic importance.

With the declaration of Saint-Domingue's independence on January 1, 1804, following the Haitian Revolution, Revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines restored the Taino name as a symbolic gesture of defiance against Spanish and French rule.

Haïti is the name given, in French, to the whole of Hispaniola. In Haitian creole, the country is called Ayiti.

In 1925, Haiti was lush, with 60% of its original forest covering the lands and mountainous regions. Since then, the population has cut down all but an estimated 2% of its original forest cover, and in the process has destroyed fertile farmland soils, contributing to desertification. Erosion has been severe in the mountainous areas. Most Haitian logging is done to produce charcoal, the country's chief source of fuel.

The plight of Haiti's forests has attracted international attention, and has led to numerous reforestation efforts, but these have met with little success to date.

Despite the large environmental crises, Haiti retains a very high amount of biodiversity in proportion to its small size. The country is home to more than 6,000 plants in which 35% are endemic and 220 species of birds in which 21 species are endemic. The country's high biodiversity is due to its mountainous topography and fluctuating elevations in which each elevation harbors different microclimates and its own endemic fauna and flora.

The country's varied scenery include lush green cloud forests (in some of the mountain ranges and the protected areas), high mountain peaks, cactus-strewn arid desert, mangrove forest, and palm tree-lined beaches.

Haitian Art

Brilliant colors, naive perspective and sly humor characterize Haitian art. Big, delectable foods and lush landscapes are favorite subjects in this land of poverty and hunger. Going to market is the most social activity of country life, and figures prominently into the subject matter. Jungle animals, rituals, dances, and gods evoke the African past.

Many artists cluster in 'schools' of painting, such as the Cap Haitien school, which features depictions of daily life in the city, the Jacmel School, which reflects the steep mountains and bays of that coastal town, or the Saint-Soleil School, which is characterized by abstracted human forms and is heavily influenced by Vodou symbolism.

In a country of political oppression, one tends to speak in fables. Artists paint in fable as well. People are disguised as animals and animals are transformed into people. In an illiterate land, symbols take on great meaning. For example, a rooster often represents Aristide and the red and blue colors of the Haitian flag often represent his Lavalas party.

Paintings by Carlo Valtrain

Update January, 2010: Carlo has lived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti all his life and has been personally affected by the quake. A widower with seven children, finding food right now for his family is very difficult. Five of his children were attending school and it is certain that school will not recommence this year so that they will lose the chance to advance their studies. Carlo also supports elderly parents in poor health and several in-laws. Everyone depends on him and his sole source of income is his art.

Painting by Carlo Valtrain

Welcome to Haitian Art Online where we offer for sale paintings from Haiti by artist Carlo Valtrain. Subscribe to our mailing list for updates.

Carlo Valtrain was born on October 26, 1959 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and began drawing and painting at age eight. He sold his first painting at age 14, and at 16 he left school to begin work as a full-time artist.

A versatile artist, Valtrain has worked in different media although he is best known for his paintings. Unlike many Haitian artists who maintain one style in all their works, Valtrain's themes and styles vary. He paints intricate foliage, colorful birds and wildlife, abstracts, landscapes, and social commentary scenes depicting the difficulties of life in Haiti.

A widower with seven children, like all Haitian artists, Valtrain struggles to live by his art and to share his creative vision in a country that has little tourism or economic vitality.