The artwork, titled “Bird Family with Fish” by the artist Norval Morrisseau, is a representation of the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of animal painting. The piece showcases a vibrant and stylized depiction of birds and fish, using bold colors and distinct lines in a manner characteristic of Morrisseau’s unique artistic style.
In this dynamic composition, vivid hues of blues, oranges, greens, and reds dominate the scene, applied in flat, unblended areas that create sharp contrasts. The central figures—a family of birds—are intricately interwoven with a fish, presenting an interconnectedness between the creatures. The birds feature distinctive, rounded forms, with exaggerated, symbolic eyes and geometric patterns adorning their bodies. Above the main subjects, circular motifs in similar color schemes float, perhaps representing celestial or spiritual symbols. The background is split into two distinct blocks of color, enhancing the contrast and giving depth to the overall composition. The artist’s signature appears on the left-hand side, vertically aligned in a harmonious blue shade. The style exudes a sense of directness and simplicity, yet it is rich with cultural symbolism and artistic expression.
