Eduardo Arroyo, Regina, Oil Painting, 1980

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Oil on canvas, hand signed. A striking and characteristically ironic composition by the celebrated Spanish artist Eduardo Arroyo, executed in … Read more Oil on canvas, hand signed. A striking and characteristically ironic composition by the celebrated Spanish artist Eduardo Arroyo, executed in 1980. The painting depicts a stylized figure in ceremonial military attire, rendered with bold flat planes of colour and sharply simplified forms. The subject, shown in profile, wears a vivid red cloak, decorative yellow braiding and medals, and a dark bicorne-style hat. Arroyo deliberately exaggerates proportions, giving the figure a faceless, mannequin-like head that reinforces the work’s satirical tone. The composition reflects Arroyo’s well-known practice of reinterpreting symbols of authority, history, and national identity through a language influenced by Pop Art, political narrative painting, and Spanish figurative traditions. The flattened pictorial space, intense chromatic contrasts, and graphic clarity create a powerful visual presence, while the absence of facial features transforms the figure into an emblematic or theatrical character rather than a portrait. Painted in 1980—during a mature period of the artist’s career—the work exemplifies Arroyo’s engagement with themes of power, representation, and historical imagery. His paintings from this period frequently reinterpret uniforms, theatrical figures, and symbolic characters, combining irony with a strong narrative sensibility. The reverse bears the handwritten title “Regina”, along with the artist’s signature\. The painting appears in excellent overall condition, with strong color saturation and stable paint layers. Presented in a simple gilt frame. Prov. Galleria Simonis Eduardo Arroyo (Madrid 1937 – Madrid 2018) was one of the most significant Spanish painters of the post-war generation. Initially trained in journalism, he moved to Paris in 1958 where he became closely associated with the movement of Narrative Figuration, alongside artists such as Hervé Télémaque and Gilles Aillaud. Rejecting the dominance of abstraction at the time, Arroyo developed a distinctive figurative language combining satire, political commentary, and references to literature, theatre, and popular culture. Throughout his career he produced paintings, sculptures, stage designs, prints, and illustrated books. His work often addresses themes of identity, history, and power, frequently portraying historical figures, cultural icons, or anonymous characters in theatrical settings. Arroyo exhibited widely in Europe and internationally, and his works are held in major public collections including: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid Centre Pompidou, Paris Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Barcelona Today Arroyo is regarded as a central figure in the revival of European figurative painting in the late 20th century, and his works remain highly sought after in both institutional and private collections. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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