2009.47.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Brightly coloured oil painting on canvas of people carrying fish. [FC 04/09/2009]

Long description

Brightly coloured oil painting on canvas of people carrying fish. The picture has been painted with oil paint onto a canvas sheet. The painting has not been painted to the edge of the canvas and all the edges are fraying slightly. In the bottom left hand corner of the canvas a length of masking tape has been stuck onto it with the inscription "Fishing Festival - oil on canvas" which is the title of the painting, and below this is written the price of the painting in Nigerian Niara. The inscription on the masking tape has been made with pen. the painting is framed with a line of black paint around all four sides approximately 20 mm wide. The background of the painting is a dappled green, yellow orange and red The painting depicts three figures carrying fish. From the left the first figure is wearing a grey tunic over trousers. The tunic and trousers are decorated with red, yellow and white tear drop shapes. The figure is wearing a hat of the same colours, red, white, yellow, black and grey. The figure and has red arms and is carrying above its head a fish. The fish has an orange face, grey and black scales and white, red, yellow, black and grey tail. The figure in the centre of the painting is wearing a blue tunic over white, grey, blue, yellow and black striped trousers/ This figure has red feet. The blue tunic is decorated with roughly circular shapes which have been painted in red and white and yellow and white. This figure has a yellow nose, blue around the eyes, a red chin and yellow lips. On the figures head is a hat painted white, red, yellow, blue and black. This figure has blue arms and is carrying a fish above its head. The fish has a red face, yellow, white and red scales and a tail which has been painted white, blue, red and black. The figure on the right of the painting is wearing a long pair of wide trousers which have been painted with red, white, yellow, blue and black stripes. the figure has red feet. The figure is wearing a red top decorated with circles which have been painted with yellow and blue segments. The figure has a red face and a hat painted with white, blue, yellow and red shapes. This figure is carrying a fish by its side. The figure has a yellow arm. this is the biggest fish in the painting, the same size as the figure itself. This fish as a red face and scales which have been painted yellow, blue, red and white. The painted has been signed by the artist in the bottom left hand corner. All of the figures, fish and details in the painting have been outlined with black paint making everything appear very bold. [FC 07/09/2009]

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Person

Maker Michael Agwu

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source John Agberia

Date

Acquisition information

Donated: 2009

Materials and processes

Material Canvas Textile, Material Pigment, Material Oil Paint, Process Painted

Dimensions

Height: max 710 mm, Length: max 815 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 2009.47.1

Research and responses

Caption prepared for The Public Catalogue Foundation: 'Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual event held in the state of Kebbi in north-west Nigeria. Argungu lies on the banks of the River Sokoto. The festival in its current form goes back to 1934, Since the 1970s it has grown into a major event, which also features sporting competitions, canoe and motor racing, craft exhibitions, canoe and motor racing, craft exhibitions and music performances. The main fishing contest, depicted in this painting, takes place on the last day of the festival, when thousands of participants line up along the river. A starting gun signals the beginning of the contest, and competitors have one hour in which to catch a fish, using only traditional methods. A cash prize is awarded for the biggest fish. Thousands of visitors, from Nigeria and abroad, attend the festival every year. [FB 14/11/2012]

Associated publications

Illustrated in colour on page 269 of The Colleges (R–W), The University, The Rhodes Trust, Vol. 2 of Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in Oxford University (London: The Public Catalogue Foundation, 2015). NB The image appears with a minimal caption, with further details appearing on page 298. For the online version, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/galleries/locations/the-pitt-rivers-museum-university-of-oxford-7496 [JC 18 11 2015]

Search terms: Picture and Graphic Art, Painting