“Le Sombre Malembo, Dieu du carrefour” is an oil painting created in 1943 by the artist Wifredo Lam. This piece belongs to the Surrealism art movement and measures 153 by 126.4 centimeters. Classified as a figurative genre, the artwork blends elements of surrealism and Afro-Cuban symbolism, portraying complex and dream-like figures.
The artwork features an intricate assembly of abstract, biomorphic shapes and figures that intermingle in a vibrant yet somewhat enigmatic environment. The dominant hues of green create a lush, jungle-like background punctuated by flashes of other colors that draw the viewer’s eye to different aspects of the composition. Various figures within the painting appear to merge human, animal, and mythological elements, rendered with fluid, undulating lines and marked by faces and masks. The overall scene invokes a sense of mysticism and otherworldliness, reflecting Lam’s unique synthesis of cultural influences and surrealist techniques.
