The artwork “Picking Cotton” by Clementine Hunter, created around 1969 in Natchitoches, United States, is an oil painting exemplifying the Folk art and Outsider art movements. Measuring 44.45 by 59.69 centimeters, this genre painting embodies the simplistic, yet profound narrative style associated with Hunter’s work.
In this artwork, the artist depicts a scene of individuals engaged in the laborious task of picking cotton. Six figures are arranged in two horizontal rows, each figure similarly dressed in vibrant clothing—yellow, orange, red, and blue dresses—with broad-brimmed red hats. They are seen bent over the cotton plants, their faces illustrating determination and focus. The background of the painting comprises a light, pastel sky with a hint of cloud formations, transitioning into a grassy landscape where the cotton plants grow. Hunter’s use of bright colors and simple forms is characteristic of her narrative style, capturing a vivid portrayal of everyday life in a rural setting.
