“Funeral,” an evocative piece by artist Clementine Hunter, was created in 1950 in Natchitoches, United States. Executed in oil on canvas, the artwork belongs to the Folk Art and Outsider Art movements. Measuring 40.64 x 50.8 cm, this genre painting poignantly captures a funeral procession.
The artwork illustrates a somber scene of a community funeral procession. Central to the composition is a line of mourners, depicted in vibrant attire, each holding flowers as they solemnly march towards a church in the background. The white church stands amidst lush, vividly green trees that contrast with the muted pastel sky. The simple yet heartfelt depiction of the figures, shown in profile, reflects the artist’s distinctive outsider art style. The line of mourners is further accented by a couple of cars parked along the roadside and a grieving individual standing near a freshly dug grave. Hunter’s use of color and form characterizes the poignant yet serene atmosphere of the scene, encapsulating the community’s collective mourning.
