Julio Larraz
Check Mate
1993

About the Item

Accomplished painter, sculptor, and draftsman Julio Larraz through his artwork has transcended time and place for more than 50 years to become one of the most influential figures in Latin American and American art. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1944, Larraz is both a Cuban artist and an American artist. His foundation and love for art began to form during his youth and blossomed into an abundant career.The experience of being forced into exile and leaving his childhood home in Cuba had a profound effect on Larraz’s life and art. Before his physical exile, Larraz experienced some internal exile as well. As a child, Larraz spent most of his classroom hours perfecting his talents as an artist rather than attending to his schoolwork. He used school as a life drawing class in which he practiced his technique by creating caricatures and cartoons of teachers. Eternally energetic and full of imaginative impulsivity, he was expelled from several schools eventually landing in a military academy run by ex-officers of Fulgencio Batista. The combination of this ex-politically affiliated academy, followed by his eventual exile from Cuba, led to the development and motivation of Larraz’s caricatures. When asked of this introduction he said they “came naturally. [They were] natural, critical observations.” What he describes as more of a feeling than an observation, his caricatures grew in popularity due to their sense of humor, ability to portray each individual personality, and the skilled quality of his work.

Creator:
Julio Larraz (1944, American)
Creation Year:
1993
Dimensions:
Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)
Medium:
Canvas,Oil
Period:
1990-1999
Condition:
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8512553222
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