Untitled Mid-Century Painting - Group of Men by Antonio Rodriguez Luna

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Untitled painting of a group of men by Antonio Rodríguez Luna (1910-1985.)

This moody piece by Antonio Rodríguez Luna is … Read more Untitled painting of a group of men by Antonio Rodríguez Luna (1910-1985.)

This moody piece by Antonio Rodríguez Luna is an excellent example of his work from the early 1960s, which often featured geometrically rendered figures with dark and subtly toned backgrounds. In this piece a group of seven men stand clustered in the center of the composition. One man has a finger pointed on his slightly raised hand and is speaking, while the others glance between themselves. The background is rendered in deep grey and black tones, with a subtly lighter and warmer tone indicating the ground the men are standing on. The white faces of the men are the brightest points on the canvas, as their clothes are also primarily in muted greys and blues accented with deep reds. Overall, this piece showcases the atmosphere and sensitive handling of color which Luna is known for.

Singed "Luna 62" in top left corner.
Canvas size: 12"H x 19.75"W
Frame size: 17"H x 25" W

Antonio Rodríguez Luna (1910–1985) was a Spanish painter whose artistic journey was shaped by the turbulence of political exile. Born in Montoro, Córdoba, he began formal art studies at the age of thirteen and was deeply influenced by the artistic environment of Madrid in the late 1920s, where he co-founded the Artistas Independientes group. As a young artist, he exhibited widely in Spain and Europe, winning acclaim and awards. However, the rise of Francisco Franco forced him into exile during the Spanish Civil War. After spending time in French concentration camps, he was granted asylum in Mexico in 1939 thanks to the efforts of other artists and intellectuals. There, he rebuilt his life and career, earning a Guggenheim Fellowship and exhibiting in prestigious venues across Mexico and the United States. Despite his success abroad, he remained deeply connected to his Spanish heritage, eventually returning to Spain after Franco's death and founding a museum in his hometown.

Rodríguez Luna’s artistic evolution mirrored the major artistic and political movements of the 20th century. Initially influenced by Surrealism and Expressionism, his style later incorporated elements of social realism, neo-Cubism, and abstraction. During the Spanish Civil War and his early years in Mexico, he used social realism to denounce political repression and express emotional depth. In Mexico, he collaborated with institutions such as the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas and became a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana. His works, characterized by their emotional intensity and refined use of muted tones, are held in collections across Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. Retrospectives of his work have been held by major institutions including the Museo de Arte Moderno and the Palacio de Bellas Artes, cementing his legacy as one of Córdoba’s most significant 20th-century painters. See less