20th-century Latin American Art is a diverse collecting category, spanning 100 years of paintings, photography, and sculpture from various Latin American countries. It’s also one of the fastest growing art markets.
The best recognized and most collected work emanates from the more developed Latin America countries: Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Columbia.
Me and My Parrots, Frida Kahlo, 1941
Mexico stands out in terms of international notoriety; it’s the most highly developed, with the most active artistic tradition. Leading up to the 20th century, the most prominent Latin American paintings were Mexican genre paintings, including religious works and portraits.
Early 20th-century work — even that of the best known Mexican artists, such as Diego Rivera and Alfredo Ramos Martinez — displayed heavy French and European academic influences.
Following the Mexican Revolution, the artwork began reflecting native cultures rather than European models. Beginning in the early 1920s, as the Revolution subsided, the new revolutionary government started sponsoring murals.
The social realism of the Murals Movement was the most prominent aspect of this period, but there were many artists and organized shows; for the first time these 20th-century artists were getting prominent venues in other countries.
For example, in 1940, New York’s Museum of Modern Art hosted a major show of Mexican artwork spanning several centuries. Later, from the 1960s through the 1980s, Latin American artists broke away from those earlier models and began to work in a more abstract, international mode — still reflecting their cultures, but in a completely different style.
In the late 1970s Sotheby’s initiated specialty Latin American art sales, which helped increase awareness as a genre of collecting.
In addition to Rivera and Martinez, highly sought-after Mexican artists include Rafino Tomayo, Frida Kahlo, Dr. Adle and Carlos Mérida. From Columbia, Reveron and painter-sculptor Fernando Boteros stand out; and the sculpture, prints, and drawings of Costa Rican Francisco Zuñiga are highly prized.
El Paisaje (the countryside), Diego Rivera, 1931
MARKET FOR 20th CENTURY LATIN AMERICAN ART
There is strong awareness of 20th-century Latin American art in today’s market. Initially, there was a parochial kind of collecting where Mexicans collected Mexican art and Brazilians collected Brazilian art.
The trend over the last six to eight years is a lot of crossover collecting — people within Latin America collecting from diverse countries, and broader collecting by Americans.
There’s continuing interest, and the prices continue to increase. For the more important artists, there’s been a dramatic escalation in values. Though they’ve perhaps leveled off in recessions, there has definitely been an increase in values. But there are great numbers of artists who are not well known.
We can still find very fine paintings by relatively unknown artists that can be had for $500 to $1,500 range — but it’s hard to find a painting of any merit for less than $500.
Recently in New York, a Frida Kahlo sold for $5 million. Fifteen to 20 years ago, her works were going for $50,000 to $250,000.
Diego Rivera was rather prolific, but tremendous demand keeps the values up. Better watercolors on paper by Rivera that used to sell from $10,000 to $20,000 are now approaching $40,000.
Flower Day, Diego Rivera, 1925
AVAILABILITY
According to Bijou, the marketplace for 20th-century Latin American art is still somewhat regional. Much of the action is centered in California and the southwest, with secondary markets in Texas and Florida.
Not for the beginner, semi-annual auctions at the prominent New York houses can command minimum lot prices of $10,000.
Prices in the countries of origin are actually higher than in the United States, due to the higher interest levels. His own large collection is based almost 100 percent on purchases made in the United States.
AUTHENTICITY
When in doubt about a piece’s authenticity, consult an expert. Works on paper, including Diego Rivera’s drawings and watercolors, can sometimes be a problem, because they’re more easily manipulated.
There are also problems with vintage paintings from Cuba; there was a sort of cottage industry down there producing fakes of their more prominent artists, such as Caregno, a modernist active in Cuba in the 1930s and 1940s.
See “How to Spot Bronze Sculpture Reproductions”
Two Fridas, Frida Kahlo, 1939
TRENDS
In the last few years, there’s been increased interest in Latin American photography. In this category, there’s room for someone with a modest collecting budget. While some Mexican photography is quite expensive, there are wonderful things that can be purchased in a reasonable price range. Undiscovered artists are creating fine photography available in galleries in the southwest and west coast.
Prominent names in photography include Hugo Brehme and Manuel Alvares Bravo. Brehme, a German who spent his entire adult life in Mexico, started photographing around 1903-1905. His career spanned the first half of the 20th century; he produced an important record of Mexico in the period through the Revolution up into the 1940s.
There have been books and museum shows on his work, but his pieces are still quite reasonable. Brehme’s photographs are readily available for less than $500.
Bravo’s work spans almost the entire century, from the 1920s to the early 1980s. The Museum of Modern Art in New York did a big retrospective of his photography a few years ago. His work is more expensive, but still accessible. Bravo’s works start at $1,000 to $1,500. Though, an early Bravo of a female nude from the 1930s sold in a spring, 2000 auction for approximately $120,000.
LATIN AMERICAN ART HISTORY
Latin American art encompasses a rich and diverse array of artistic expressions from the countries of Latin America, which include those in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It has a long and complex history, with indigenous, European, and African influences playing a significant role in shaping the region’s art. Here are some key aspects of Latin American art:
Before the arrival of European colonizers, indigenous cultures in Latin America created elaborate works of art, including pottery, textiles, sculpture, and architecture. The Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, and various other civilizations produced stunning artworks that are still celebrated today.
The arrival of Spanish and Portuguese colonizers in the 16th century had a profound impact on the art of the region. European artistic traditions fused with indigenous influences, resulting in the development of a unique style known as “colonial art.” Religious themes were prevalent in this art, with many churches and cathedrals featuring intricate baroque and Renaissance designs.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Latin American art underwent significant transformations. Artists like Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo (Mexico), Wifredo Lam (Cuba), and Tarsila do Amaral (Brazil) were part of the modernist movement, which incorporated indigenous motifs and explored national identity, social issues, and cultural heritage.
Muralism became a prominent art movement in Mexico, led by artists like Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco. These artists used large-scale murals to convey political and social messages, often depicting scenes of the Mexican Revolution and indigenous history.
Surrealism found a strong following in Latin America, particularly in the work of artists like Frida Kahlo and Remedios Varo. These artists used dreamlike and symbolic imagery to explore personal and psychological themes.
Latin American artists made significant contributions to abstract art. Artists like JoaquÃn Torres-GarcÃa (Uruguay) and Jesús Rafael Soto (Venezuela) were influential figures in the development of geometric abstraction.
Latin American art continues to evolve in the contemporary era, with artists exploring a wide range of styles and mediums. Some well-known contemporary Latin American artists include Doris Salcedo (Colombia), Cildo Meireles (Brazil), and Gabriel Orozco (Mexico).
Latin America is also known for its vibrant folk art traditions. Each region has its own unique craft traditions, including textiles, pottery, woodworking, and more. These traditions often reflect the cultural heritage and folklore of the area.
Many Latin American artists have used their work to address social and political issues, including poverty, inequality, human rights, and the legacy of colonialism.
Latin American art is a diverse and dynamic field that reflects the complex history, culture, and identity of the region. It continues to be a source of inspiration and creativity for artists both within and outside of Latin America.
Further Reading from Amazon
For a closer look at 20th-century Latin American Art, we suggest the following:
- Leonard’s Price Index of Latin American Art at Auction, by Susan Theran.
- A Song to Reality: Latin-American Photography 1860-1993, by Erika Billeter.
- Art in Latin America, by Dawn Ades
- Essays on Mexican Art by Octavio Paz.
- Art Cuba: The New Generation by Holly Block
- Twentieth-Century Art of Latin America by Jacqueline Barnitz
- Latin American Art in the Twentieth Century by Edward Sullivan
- Art on the Jesuit Missions in Asia and Latin America, 1542-1773 by Gauvin Alexander Bailey
- Santeria Aesthetics in Contemporary Latin American Art by Arturo Lindsay
- Latin American Art: Ancient to Modern by John Scott
- Leonard’s Price Index of Latin American Art at Auction by Susan Theran
- Leonard’s ANNUAL Price Index of Art Auctions, Volume #17 by Susan Theran
- A Song to Reality : Latin-American Photography 1860-1993 by Erika Billeter
- Usbekistan: Dokumentarfotografie = Documentary Photography, 1925-1945: From the Collection Oliver and Susanne Stahel by Max Penson
- Art in Latin America: The Modern Era, 1820-1980 by Dawn Ades
- Dali (World of Art) by Dawn Ades
- Essays on Mexican Art by Octavio Paz
