1962
Oil on black velvet
30 × 24 inches
Frame included

Figure from Tyree, Artist of the South Pacific by CJ Cook

In Wahine with Conch Shell, Tyree presents a sensuous yet restrained figure study set within a shadowed Pacific landscape in this large oil painting. He allows the female figure to emerge from darkness, modeling her form with warm, luminous highlights that contrast against the absorptive black velvet ground. By exploiting the medium’s ability to soften edges and deepen tonal transitions, Tyree gives the figure both sculptural presence and atmospheric depth.

The sitter holds a conch shell gently to her ear, creating a symbolic link to the sea and to ancestral memory—an evocation of sound, ritual, and the rhythms of island life. A palm trunk rises along the right edge of the composition, anchoring the figure within a tropical setting without relying on descriptive detail. The rich red drapery at the waist provides a measured chromatic accent, guiding the viewer’s eye while preserving the painting’s overall mood of stillness and introspection.

Painted in 1962, the work reflects Tyree’s mature engagement with Pacific subjects and his ability to balance classical figure painting with symbolic suggestion. The result is an image that feels quiet, intimate, and contemplative—characteristic of Tyree’s finest oil-on-velvet portraits.