The artwork titled “100 Years Ago,” created by artist Peter Doig in 2001, is an oil painting on canvas that belongs to the Magic Realism art movement and the genre painting category.
The artwork depicts a scene with a solitary individual seated in a vibrant red canoe that seems to float atop a still water surface. A serene landscape with lush greenery and a building complex is visible in the background under a dark, enigmatic sky. The composition is striking with the stark contrast between the bright, arresting color of the canoe and the subdued, almost melancholic tones of the sky and water. The reflective surface of the water below the canoe adds a dreamlike quality to the scene, enhancing the magic realist traits of the painting. The solitary figure in the canoe, central to the composition, evokes a sense of contemplation and solitude, possibly narrating a moment from the past, as suggested by the artwork’s title. The overall mood is contemplative and mysterious, inviting viewers to delve into the story and emotions conveyed by the tranquil yet poignant scene.