The artwork, titled “Otters,” was created by Norval Morrisseau in 1993 and belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. This painting falls under the genre of animal painting.
In this vibrant and expressive piece, Morrisseau utilizes bold colors and distinct outlines to depict two otters seemingly intertwined, surrounded by stylized fish against a textured green background. His characteristic style is evident in the use of vivid hues and the representation of natural forms through a series of flowing, dynamic shapes. The otters are rendered in contrasting shades of white and aqua, demarcated with red lines and blue accents, which juxtapose strikingly with the deep green and hints of purple in the surrounding environment. Morrisseau’s work is imbued with symbolic meaning and adheres to the visual language distinctive of his Indigenous Canadian heritage, providing a deeply cultural aesthetic to the portrayal of the animal subjects.
