Art Is the Mirror of the Soul

Celebrating the Life of Claude Dambreville

Claude Dambreville’s joy mirrors his artful legacy — a life richly painted with love and culture | Photo by Vadim Dambreville

“Art is the mirror of the soul,” proclaimed Haitian painter Georges Castera. And never was a truth more fitting than when describing the life and legacy of my father, Claude Dambreville.

As I mediate in my living room on this past and upcoming week, Claude Dambreville’s art on the walls, each canvas speaks to me, not only as his son but as a living part of his legacy. My favorite painting always catches my eye – a lively musical scene whose vibrant colors seem to dance with the rhythms of the Caribbean. More than a painting; it’s a window to my past, present and future.

Claude Dambreville brings the rhythm of Haiti to life, capturing the soulful essence of music in every brushstroke | Photo by Vadim Dambreville

Born into a resilient, loving family, typical of Haiti’s middle class on December 17th 1934 in Port-au-Prince, Dad’s artistic journey was a path he carved out himself, distinct from the experiences of his siblings. In a household with two boys and three girls, the last to arrive, he grew up in an environment where the value of hard work and family unity prevailed. His father, a long-time employee of Haiti’s water company, CAMEP, and his mother, a dedicated housewife, instilled in him and his siblings the principles of resilience and love.