This portrait is dedicated to my grandfather, Leo Eduard Albert Echteld. Born in Paramaribo in 1925, he lived a full century of life before passing away in 2026. He was a musician, builder, cook, storyteller and father whose love was always expressed through action.
At 99 years old he was still driving, still moving forward, and still showing that age never defined his spirit. Rather than focusing on loss, this painting celebrates a life of resilience, discipline and unconditional care. It is a tribute to the man I knew as Paps, and to the legacy that continues through our family.
