Hope

Aina Onabolu, widely regarded as the father of modern Nigerian art, was born in Ijebu-Ode in 1882. From a young age, he demonstrated an innate talent for drawing, practicing by copying photographs and illustrations from European magazines. At 12, he was already designing charts and visual aids for schoolteachers. Onabolu’s 1906 portrait Mrs. Spencer Savage is considered one of the earliest modern artworks by a Nigerian artist. He was the first Nigerian to receive formal art education in Europe, studying at Académie Julian in Paris and later at the Royal Academy of Art in London, where he earned certificates in oil painting and fine art. His contributions to the development of art education in Nigeria were profound, and he played a key role in inviting British art educator Kenneth Murray to the country. Onabolu's influence endures, and he was posthumously inducted into the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Hall of Fame in 2018.
In Hope, Onabolu portrays a woman selling fruits at what appears to be a village market. She sits under a shed beside a basket filled with yellow-orange fruits, neatly displayed in groups of four. This traditional scene reflects the longstanding practice of fruit trading among women across Nigeria, symbolizing the hope and sustenance such trade provides. Onabolu’s mature use of color—mixing grey, rusty yellow, brown, and black—adds depth and warmth to the scene, creating a timeless snapshot of local life.