Oil Painting Puerto Rican Outsider Latin American Art "Horsemen of Apocalypse" by Juan De Prey, 1932

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A most unusual oil on canvas painting, by the Latin American artist Juan De' Prey (1904-1962), "The horsemen of the … Read more A most unusual oil on canvas painting, by the Latin American artist Juan De' Prey (1904-1962), "The horsemen of the Apocalypse", dated 1932.

De'Prey worked mainly New York, this most unusual painting depicts the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, riding through a river of bodies and carrying sabres, the rider to the front with a decapitated head on his blade. It typifies the dark politcal work produced by Latin American artists during the 1930s.
The painting strongly depicts the influence of Mexican muralists of the time, like Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco. The figures and bodies below also display a style that also came to influence the artists of the WPA style.
The painting is signed lower left "Juan De' Prey" and is annotated by the artist to the verso "Painting 1932", the artist was well known for creating his own frames, this work is also housed in the original frame. The painting is in very good condition and is ready to hang on your wall.
Provenance; From Juan De'Prey's Great Grandaughter.

At Sight: 22.75" H, 32" W

Juan de'Prey was born in Haiti in 1904, born Jean Deriberprey, the artist likely shortened his name to make it easier for people to remember.
In the 1930s he held his first exhibitions in New York City. Juan De'Prey was a well reviewed artist who exhibited regularly during his lifetime. He was known more in New York City than in Puerto Rico during his active period, and was relatively well received by critics and was a pioneer among New York City Latinos. The earliest appearance in newspapers about his work are from El Diario La Prensa and is dated June 10th, 1939. It is titled "Grupo de Artistas Hispanos Exhibe en el Village" (A Group of Hispanic Artists Exhibit in the Village) and mentions the Greenwich Village Art Show on Sullivan Street between 3rd and 4th streets. Two early Latin artist groups that he helped form, or was a part of, were "Pro Art Group" which was formed in 1934 with Mexican artist Miguel Angel de Leo, and in 1938 Juan was a part of "The Latin American Group of NYC" headed by Spanish painter Orencio Mira. At the request of Marcia Matthews, it was with this group that Juan reluctantly showed his work at the Spring 1939 Washington Square Art Show, during which notably Juan sold all of his works, and one was selected by Spanish sculptor Jose de Creeft as a first prize winner.
Juan de'Prey has left as a legacy the achievement of an outsider artist and immigrant who made success as an artist in New York City and continuously and admirably pursued his dream of being an artist. He was successful in achieving his dream and developed a noteworthy and celebrated style underivative of others or stylistic movements of his time.
De'Prey left behind a large body of work spread throughout the world, both in fine art museums & private collections. He has been classed with the Mexican school of Diego Rivera. Reproductions of his "Madonna and Child" are very popular in Puerto Rico. De'Prey held three one man-shows at the Galérie St. Etienne and also exhibited at the Whitney Museum of Modern Art, Riverside Museum and Galeria Sudamericana as well as the Beau Monde Galleries. See less