Latin American Modernism
1920–1980Guayasamín's anguished hands, Tarsila's tropical abstraction. Latin America inventing its own modernism from indigenous and European roots.
Oil, fresco, industrial paints. Bold color informed by tropical light and Pre-Columbian art.
Oswaldo Guayasamín
1919–1999Ecuadorian
Painter of suffering hands and anguished faces. The Age of Wrath — Latin America's pain made monumental.
Cubist-influenced forms with Expressionist palette. Earth tones with vivid accents. Hands as primary subject.
Further reading: Guayasamín — Generalitat Valenciana (catálogo de exposición)Anguish red
Red of suffering and revolution.
Material: Cadmium red, vermilion
RGB(172, 32, 32)
Andean earth
Brown of Andean soil and indigenous skin.
Material: Burnt sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre
RGB(110, 74, 42)
Clenched fist ochre
Warm ochre of tortured, expressive hands.
Material: Yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, burnt sienna
RGB(201, 154, 80)
Despair black
Near-black of mourning and oppression.
Material: Lamp black, burnt umber
RGB(29, 20, 16)
Quito sky blue
Andean sky blue — hope above suffering.
Material: Cobalt blue, cerulean blue, lead white
RGB(58, 106, 154)
Bone white (Guayasamín)
Off-white of exposed bone and anguished eyes.
Material: Lead white, raw umber, yellow ochre trace
RGB(211, 200, 184)
Pigments: Vermilion · Cadmium red · Ochre · Umber · Sienna · Cadmium yellow · Lamp black · Cobalt blue · Cerulean blue · Lead white
Tarsila do Amaral
1886–1973Brazilian
Mother of Brazilian modernism. Abaporu — the figure that launched Antropofagia. Tropical geometry in bold, flat color.
Clean, flat areas of bold color. Influenced by Fernand Léger and Brazilian folk art. Smooth, poster-like surfaces.
Further reading: Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil — Stephanie D'Alessandro and Luis Pérez-Oramas (Yale University Press)Abaporu blue
Deep blue of the sky in Abaporu and tropical scenes.
Material: Cobalt blue, ultramarine
RGB(42, 90, 170)
Tropical green
Saturated green of Brazilian vegetation.
Material: Viridian, emerald green, cadmium yellow
RGB(42, 122, 58)
Terra roxa
The distinctive red-purple earth of São Paulo state.
Material: Red ochre, burnt sienna
RGB(138, 58, 26)
Brazilian sun
Vivid yellow of tropical sunlight.
Material: Cadmium yellow, chrome yellow
RGB(232, 192, 48)
Antropofagia flesh
Warm brown-gold of Brazilian flesh.
Material: Yellow ochre, burnt sienna, lead white
RGB(216, 168, 112)
Mandacaru green
Dark green of cacti and arid northeastern landscapes.
Material: Viridian, chrome green, lamp black
RGB(60, 90, 42)
Pigments: Ultramarine · Cobalt blue · Cadmium yellow · Emerald green · Viridian · Ochre · Sienna · Chrome yellow · Lead white · Chrome green · Lamp black
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