Fernando de Szyszlo

Fernando de Szyszlo is renowned for his uniquely poetic abstract paintings which portray ancient Peruvian culture in a modernist style. “Cajamarca,” a series of paintings begun in 1959, allude to the execution of the last Inca, Atahualpa, illustrating the way Szyszlo evoked the emotion of an event via color and form rather than literally depicting it. Rufino Tamayo was an influential inspiration in his exploration of shapes and colors linked to the myths of pre-Hispanic culture while a visit to Paris in the late 1940s brought him into contact with the poet Octavio Paz and fellow artist Alejandro Obregón who shared his desire to embrace modernism, while retaining a strong Latin American identity. The European artists he met, including André Breton, Hans Hartung, and Pierre Soulages, would also influence his style. De Szyszlo’s impact is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen to represent Peru at the Venice Biennale in 1958.