Jean Rambinintsoa (1899-1986) Malagasy Painting Rural Scene Of The Highlands Of Madagascar

This painting, an oil on canvas signed and dated 1966, is an emblematic work by Jean Rambinintsoa (1899-1986), depicting a rice transplanting scene in the Malagasy Highlands.

The artwork captures the daily labour and the harmony between people and the land. In the foreground, six figures work in the muddy water of the rice field. All are bent over, hands in the soil, performing the physical and essential task of planting young rice shoots. Their effort is palpable, suggested by the posture of their bodies and by the central figure of a woman, dressed in a red top and a long light-colored lamba, who straightens up for a moment, hands on her head, as if taking a breath or gazing toward the horizon.

The atmosphere of the painting is powerfully defined by a dawn or dusk light. The sky plays a central role in the composition, traversed by a spectacular blend of colours: the horizon to the left is flooded with bright yellow and soft orange-pink tones, contrasting with the deep blue and turquoise dominating the upper part of the sky.

This treatment of light creates a strong backlighting effect that highlights the silhouettes of the workers. The water of the rice field acts like a mirror, capturing and reflecting the vibrant hues of the sky.

The scene unfolds in a vast, open landscape. The background is bordered by a range of violet and bluish hills or mountains, suggesting the characteristic topography of Madagascar’s high plateaus. In the foreground, darker vegetation (grasses and bushes) frames the rice plot, adding depth and contrast with the lighter tones of the water and sky.

Overall, this painting stands as a testimony to rural life and pays homage to the beauty of the island’s landscapes, emphasizing the importance of the agricultural cycle in Malagasy culture.

The artwork is in very good condition (with a few tiny black spots to note).

Framed size: 66 x 45 cm
Unframed size: 60.5 x 40 cm

Jean Rambinintsoa (1899-1986)

Jean Rambinintsoa (1899–1986) was a 20th-century Malagasy painter and is regarded as one of the significant representatives of figurative painting in Madagascar. Active over several decades, he is particularly known for his oil paintings depicting Malagasy landscapes, village scenes, rural life and everyday moments. Through his work, he expressed a deep attachment to the culture and traditions of his country, illustrating farming life, rice fields and views of Antananarivo.

His style, both realistic and sensitive, favours a luminous palette and an accurate rendering of local atmospheres, often marked by water, tropical light and working silhouettes. His paintings, sometimes dated between the 1930s and 1960s, continue to circulate on the art market today and are regularly presented in galleries or auction houses, where they are sought after for their pictorial quality and heritage value. With his humanistic gaze and attentive portrayal of rural life, Jean Rambinintsoa played a role in the emergence of a Malagasy pictorial identity, blending academic influence with local expression. His work stands as a valuable testimony to Malagasy life in the 20th century and holds a significant place in the country’s artistic history.

We are actively looking for works by Malagasy painters — feel free to contact us.

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