Carmen Parra, Musical Angel, 1970s, Mixed Media on Paper

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Mixed media on paper "musical angel", carmen parra, 20th century - mexico

technique on support: mixed media on handmade paper

… Read more Mixed media on paper "musical angel", carmen parra, 20th century - mexico

technique on support: mixed media on handmade paper

title of the work: “musical angel”

artist: carmen parra

period: second half of the 20th century

country of origin: mexico

provenance: important private collection

good condition considering its age and use

overall dimensions: 81.5 x 60 x 3 cm

dimensions without frame: 75.5 x 54.5 cm

a magnificent work entitled “musical angel”, created by carmen parra in the second half of the 20th century. It depicts an angel seated on clouds formed by concentric spirals, which stand out against the rest of the work due to their gilded appearance. The angel, dressed in a red tunic, holds a musical instrument, a lute, and plays it. Throughout the work, golden and earthy tones, such as brown and reddish hues, stand out, coloring the black outline that forms the figure. Signed in the lower right corner, next to the signature is the dedication to rosa chacel. In the lower left corner, we find "pa" (author's proof), which means that this is one of the first editions, if not the very first, in which the artist could check the color and print quality before the next series.

the technique used in this work is a silkscreen print with gold leaf applied to textured, handmade paper. This technique has been used by the artist in much of her work, specifically in the collections of musical angels and archangels, to which this painting belongs. This series comprises several works depicting angels playing different instruments; all of them share similar characteristics and backgrounds. Her work reflects the mexican pictorial tradition, inheriting motifs from the spanish american viceregal baroque, combined with a distinctive brushstroke, the result of her training in the second half of the 20th century.

carmen parra is a painter and artist with an extensive career, born in mexico city in 1944. Her training is broad in terms of subject matter and location. In the field of visual arts, she studied at the academy of fine arts in rome and at the national school of painting, sculpture, and engraving "la esmeralda" in mexico. However, she did not limit herself to painting; she also pursued studies in social anthropology at the national school of anthropology and history in mexico city, graphic design at the royal college of arts in london, and music at the villa-lobos institute in rio de janeiro. All of this training is reflected in her work, which incorporates various techniques, such as oil painting, gouache, relief on amate paper, and serigraphy, among others. Her career will be honored by the vii legislative assembly of the federal district, which awarded her the medal of merit in the arts in 2017, and by the international cervantino festival, which awarded her the cervantino prize in 2022. Furthermore, numerous mexican and international institutions, such as the national museum of mexican art in chicago, have incorporated some of her work into their collections.

her career is notable for her interest in portraying angels and archangels, which she experiences as a living connection to her roots. This connection stems from her connection to new spanish baroque art, which she encountered during her training and in her environment, as it is present in many mexican altars and churches. This work is the result of her desire to rescue the historical and spiritual memory of mexico in the face of a world she considers increasingly superficial, although she ultimately combines this traditional aesthetic with contemporary techniques and styles.

this is a very special piece due to its exclusivity and provenance, as it comes from the estate collection of the artist couple timoteo pérez rubio and rosa chacel. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less