Caribbean landscape depicting workers unloading charcoal from boats docked behind them, amid palm trees bending in the breeze, with a hilly island in the distance across the water.  The shirtless workers are dressed in pants rolled up above their ankles, and carry the large charcoal blocks on their heads.  The painting is rendered with a muted palette of gray-blues, pink and brown.  The work is titled and signed on the back, and evidently painted in the U.S. Virgin Islands at a time when fuel wood and charcoal still provided a major source of energy there.

Condition:  Generally very good with the usual light overall toning and wear.  Faint mat burn easily matted out to image size indicated above.  Damp stain to left side, unobtrusive.  Signed and titled verso, apparently in artist’s hand, and with names Emily and David Kempner, probably original purchasers.