Antonio Pelaez 21 Women of Mexico Ed Fournier 1956

Description

Complete portfolio of 21 original lithographs by Antonio Peláez, titled "21 Women of Mexico" and published by Editorial Fournier in 1956. The lithographs portray 21 prominent Mexican women, such as Lola Álvarez Bravo, Lupe Marín, Ruth Rivera, Lola Beltrán, Olga Campos, Dolores del Río, Frida Kahlo, and Guadalupe Amor. The folder includes a biography, poem, writing, or commentary about each of the women. These texts were written by illustrious figures such as Andrés Henestrosa, Alfonso Reyes, Fernando Benítez, Carlos Pellicer, Juan Soriano, Justino Fernández, Edmundo Báez, and Diego Rivera. With an introduction by Edmundo O'Gorman. With 21 lithographs of the original drawings by Antonio Pelaez, photographed by René Cassereau. The edition consists of 250 copies, of which 40 are numbered from I to XL and 210 are numbered from 1 to 210. The available copy is number 43.

The portfolio is in good condition. The lithographs are clean and undamaged. The cover of the folder has some signs of wear, such as stains and tears in the corners.

Antonio Peláez (Llanes, Asturias, 1921 - Mexico City, 1994) was a Mexican artist of Spanish origin who excelled in various disciplines, including painting, drawing, illustration, and muralism. He immigrated to Mexico in 1936 and obtained Mexican citizenship in 1937. He studied art at the National School of Painting, Sculpture, and Engraving "La Esmeralda" in Mexico City, where he met other influential artists.

In Mexico, Peláez experimented with various artistic styles, from realism to abstraction. In the 1940s, he worked in the workshop of Jesús Guerrero Galván. In 1942, he created a series of self-portraits and, a decade later, published a book with portraits of twenty Mexican women, including Frida Kahlo, Dolores del Río, and Lupe Marín. He began his career making portraits, but in the 1950s, he switched to abstract art, focusing on texture, color, and the use of space. After spending time in Europe, he began exhibiting his work in Mexico and other countries, such as France, Spain, and Israel. His work was recognized with a retrospective at the Palace of Fine Arts, and he was also a member of the Mexican Plastic Arts Salon. His work is characterized by its expressiveness, chromatic strength, and deep social commitment.

Peláez was a recognized artist in Mexico and internationally. The Palace of Fine Arts held a retrospective of his work in 1973, and his last exhibition in life was at the Museum of Modern Art in 1981. After his death, the Metropolitan Autonomous University organized an exhibition and tribute to his work in 2001. His work has been commented on by figures such as Octavio Paz, Ramón Xirau, Edmundo O'Gorman, Justino Fernández, and Margarita Nelken. His work is held in the collections of important museums in Mexico and abroad.

He was a fundamental artist in the development of modern art in Mexico. His work contributed to enriching the Mexican artistic scene and consolidating the cultural identity of the country.