Barco Negro (Black Ship)

Pastels, acrylic and watercolor painting based on "Barco Negro" (fado). (sold)

 This dark painting is based on the fado titled "Barco Negro" (Black Ship). It tells the story of a young fisherman's wife. As she waves farewell to her husband at the beginning of a fishing trip, the older ladies - all wearing black as they were widows and had lived the same things before - advise her not to expect her husband back. In denial, she says..."They - the older women - are crazy...How could it be that you won't come back if I saw your white hand wave at me from the ship? How can they say you won't be back, if you never left...How can they say you won't be back if I feel you in the morning breeze?"

Very tragic story, so common in the lives of fishermen and their wives in old time Portugal.