Mid-Century Oil on Canvas - Lake Pátzcuaro Fishermen with Butterfly Nets

This is a mid-20th-century oil painting on canvas depicting the iconic 'mariposa' (butterfly) net fishermen, a traditional scene most commonly associated with Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, Mexico. The artwork is characterized by an expressive, impasto-style application of oil paint, particularly visible in the dramatic, swirling grey clouds and the white, schematic linework used to represent the circular nets. The composition features a central fisherman in traditional white attire and a straw hat operating a small wooden boat, surrounded by the large, translucent nets that give the piece its title. The color palette is dominated by muted blues, greys, and earth tones, with a notable pops of teal in the water and boat. The painting is housed in a contemporary wide-profile wooden frame with an aged, metallic champagne or pale gold finish, showing slight surface abrasions and dust accumulation consistent with age. This style of representational Mexican genre art was highly popular for international collectors from the 1940s through the 1960s. While no signature is immediately visible in the lower corners, the craftsmanship indicates a skilled artist familiar with regional Mexican motifs. The canvas appears taut, though there is a hint of surface patina and minor craquelure typical of vintage oil works.