Duck Hunter by Unsigned

This is a lovely watercolor and gouache painting I've titled Duck Hunter. The setting is a fall landscape with a touch of frost or snow. A vee of ducks or geese are flying in from the left. At the lower right a Black man dressed in red and blue is launching a boat. The piece is unsigned and while done in a naive style, the artist displays excellent composition and painting skills. The use of gouache adds brightness to an otherwise dark scene. I also like the way the artist handles the sky. There is a sense of fog or mist burning off to display a blue sky with high clouds. The beginning of a beautiful and productive day (at least from the hunter's point of view, perhaps not the ducks). The piece is framed with the framed size 21 3/4 x 17 3 /4 inches. The visible image is 14 x 10 inches. The piece has been examined out of the frame. It appears to be in excellent condition. The colors are bright with no evidence of fading, toning, staining, or foxing. The paper condition is good with no tears or loss visible. The painting is sealed in a mat board which may not be archival although it's not showing any signs of deterioration. There is no signature, date, or title. It is a lovely watercolor.