Clementine Hunter is known for her bright, whimsical folk paintings depicting life in the Cane River region of northern Louisiana. Self-taught and illiterate, Hunter painted at night, after work, drawing on whatever surfaces she could find: canvas, wood, gourds, paper, wine bottles, iron pots, cutting boards, and plastic milk jugs. She felt compelled to paint and had a complete disinterest in fame.

Photograph of Clementine Hunter, unknown date, attributed to Carolyn Ramsey, courtesy of Watson Memorial Library, Cammie G. Henry Research Center (the Mildred Hart Bailey Collection). (c) The Cammie G. Henry Research Center, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA, USA