Alphonse Béatrice

Forgotten Haitian painter who fused Vodou symbolism with post-impressionist techniques

Alphonse Béatrice (1885-1975) created visionary art bridging African spirituality and European modernism. After studying at Paris' École des Beaux-Arts, he returned to Port-au-Prince in 1925 establishing the Centre d'Art. His controversial 'Vodou Cycle' series depicted lwa (spirits) using cubist geometries and tropical color palettes.

Béatrice's 'Damballah's Rainbow' (1938) provoked Catholic authorities but became a touchstone for later artists like Basquiat. During the Duvalier regime, he secretly taught marginalized youths mural techniques that evolved into Haiti's vibrant street art tradition.

Despite international exhibitions in 1940s New York, Béatrice refused to commercialize his work. The 2010 earthquake destroyed many originals, making surviving pieces like 'Gede Noir' (1952) crucial to understanding Caribbean modernism.