Cocoa Plantation
Artifact IDMO 63.429
Object Type
Painting
Date
before 1962
Date Presented3/22/1962
Artist
Diaby Youssouf
(Ivorian, active 1950-1970)
Place MadeIvory Coast, Africa
Place of GiftWashington, D.C., United States
Medium
Oil on canvas
DimensionsFramed H 31 1/8 in x W 37 1/2 in (79.1 cm x 95.3 cm)
Physical DescriptionOil painting of two figures working on a plantation, hand picking the fruit from cocoa trees. The right side of the canvas features a pathway that leads the eye toward a group of traditional huts in the background.
Historical NoteArtist Diaby Youssouf's painting of workers on a cocoa plantation was given to President Kennedy by the president of the Republic of the Ivory Coast, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, on May 22, 1962.
President Félix Houphouët-Boigny explicitly chose Youssouf's work as a state gift because it masterfully typified life in Côte d'Ivoire. At the time, the country was emerging as the world's leading producer of cocoa, making the painting a proud symbol of the nation's primary economic engine and the labor of its people. By being selected for President John F. Kennedy, Youssouf's work was elevated from local art to a tool of international diplomacy.
Additional DetailsPresident Félix Houphouët-Boigny explicitly chose Youssouf's work as a state gift because it masterfully typified life in Côte d'Ivoire. At the time, the country was emerging as the world's leading producer of cocoa, making the painting a proud symbol of the nation's primary economic engine and the labor of its people. By being selected for President John F. Kennedy, Youssouf's work was elevated from local art to a tool of international diplomacy.
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - PossiblyUse Restriction NoteCopyright and other proprietary rights may be held by individuals or entities other than the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of these materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.In Collection(s)
Not on view