Carlos Enríquez Gómez
Encyclopedia
Carlos Enríquez Gómez was a Cuba
n painter
, illustrator
and writer of the Vanguardia movement (the Cuban Avant-garde
). Along with Víctor Manuel
, Amelia Peláez
, Fidelio Ponce and Antonio Gattorno
, and other masters of this period, he was involved in one of the most fertile
moments in Cuban culture. He is considered by critics to be one of the best, and most original, Cuban artists of the 20th century.
Carlos Enríquez strived to develop a genuinely Cuban style that, while fueled by surrealism
and modernism
, took inspiration from Cuba's landscapes, culture, social problems and way of living. He was also considered a rebel, and was often criticized for the allegedly explicit nature of his nudes, and for his bohemian
lifestyle.
to complete his bachelor studies, and in 1920 his parents sent him to Philadelphia, where he studied Commerce until 1924. At his insistence, he was permitted to study Painting at the Pennsylvania Academy, where he took a short summer course. Due to differences with his professors, he never finished the course, which were the only painting studies he ever took. He returned home the following year, he had no wife.
Soon after his return, he started painting professionally, while working as an accountant at the Lonja del Comercio (Havana's Stock Exchange). In 1925 he participated in his first exposition, and in 1927 two of his nudes were retired from the Exposition of New Arts of Havana
after being considered "exaggeratedly realistic". 1927, however, marks the year when the Cuban Vanguardia movement made its first steps, mainly thanks to this exposition, and the artists that participated in it would later become the higher exponents of the movement.
The episode convinced Enríquez to return to the United States. After breaking up with Alice Neel, he returned to Cuba in 1930 with their daughter Isabetta. That same year, another of his expositions is aborted due to the allegedly explicit content of his paintings. He again left Cuba, this time for Europe, mainly Spain and France, where he continued his painting career and got in touch with Impressionism
and surrealism
, currents that will radically influence his work. Some of his best works were produced in this period: Bacteriological Spring and Virgen del Cobre (which is the patron saint of Cuba).
He returned to Cuba in 1934, and started a new pictorial style, which would become his trademark. He named it Romancero Guajiro (countryman's romance), a modernist
approach to the stories and colors of the Cuban countryside. Like the case of the other vanguardia artists, the reencounter with his native land provided the catalyst for his mature style and his commitment to express Cuban realities and myths. The subjects were often inspired by popular myths and social realities. One of his preoccupations as an artist concerned the expression of an authentic Cuban-Caribbean culture, which he believed was only to be found in the countryside, in its Creole people, myths, and legends. His interest in the representation of the life outside Havana was also motivated by his belief that the real Cuba lay outside the capital. Enríquez's Romancero Guajiro was strongly influenced by some of the core ideas of modernist primitivism. His primitivism, however differs from that of Antonio Gattorno
and Eduardo Abela
in that it does not represent the guajiros as simple, calm, and noble, but as raw, violent, and restless. His painting Rey de los Campos de Cuba (King of the Cuban Fields) received first prize in 1935's National Exposition of Painters and Sculptors.
). This remained his home for the rest of his life. Here he painted one of his most famous works: El Rapto de las Mulatas (the kidnapping of the Mulatto Women). A transposition of the Rape of the Sabine Women to the Cuban fields, it is said that Enríquez had a horse brought to his workshop, tied Sara Cheméndez (his female model at the time) to the horse and had the animal lash
ed, in order to have a more realistic scene for the painting. The same year, he was again awarded a prize in the National Exposition for this painting, and published his first novel, Tilín García.
In the 40s, he wrote two more novels (La Vuelta de Chencho and La Feria de Guaicanama, which were published posthumously on 1960), illustrated books, held conferences and expositions in several countries, wrote articles for different magazines, and continued to paint. He also received another prize in 1946's National Exposition for his painting La Arlequina.
His life was marked by alcoholism
. During the 50s his health weakened, and he suffered several problems with broken bones, allegedly caused by his unregulated way of living. He is said to have had severe economical problems, for the same reason. He died on May 2, 1957, while painting in his study. That same day, a personal exposition was to be inaugurated (it was of course delayed a month after news of his death). His house in Havana is now a small museum with about 140 paintings by Enríquez, and a number of sketch
es and writings. The house also acts as the meeting center for a small organization of young Cuban artists, named Hurón Azúl.
He also painted portraits and self-portraits, a large number of nudes and a handful of still lifes. He described his work in the following manner:
Enríquez was also an accomplished writer and illustrator. He published 3 books and a number of essays and articles. He also provided the illustration artwork for books by Nicolás Guillén
and Alejo Carpentier
, two famous Cuban writers that were friends of the painter and regularly visited his workshop.
A number of Enríquez' paintings and drawings are as well present in several private collections in Cuba, Latin America, the United States and Europe.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and writer of the Vanguardia movement (the Cuban Avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
). Along with Víctor Manuel
Víctor Manuel García Valdés
Víctor Manuel García Valdés was a Cuban painter of the Avant-garde movement.-Biography:Born in Havana, at age 6 he already showed a precocious attitude for drawing. At age 12, he started studying arts at San Alejandro Art School, the most recognized art school in Cuba...
, Amelia Peláez
Amelia Peláez
Amelia Peláez del Casal was an important Cuban painter of the Avant-garde generation.-Biography:Amelia was born in 1896 in Yaguajay, in the former Cuban province of Las Villas...
, Fidelio Ponce and Antonio Gattorno
Antonio Gattorno
Antonio Gattorno was the first Cuban artist of his generation to achieve an international reputation as a universal contemporary that transcended his ethnicity. He is one of the founders of Cuba's Modernist Movement, yet he is also one of the most underrated major painters of the 20th...
, and other masters of this period, he was involved in one of the most fertile
Fertile
The term fertile describes a condition whereby organisms are able to produce physically healthy offspring.Fertile may also refer to:...
moments in Cuban culture. He is considered by critics to be one of the best, and most original, Cuban artists of the 20th century.
Carlos Enríquez strived to develop a genuinely Cuban style that, while fueled by surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
and modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
, took inspiration from Cuba's landscapes, culture, social problems and way of living. He was also considered a rebel, and was often criticized for the allegedly explicit nature of his nudes, and for his bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
lifestyle.
Early years
Born in Zulueta, in the former Cuban province of Las Villas, on August 3, 1900 to a wealthy Cuban family, Carlos Enríquez received little academic training, so his art is considered to be largely autodidact. At a young age he transferred to HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
to complete his bachelor studies, and in 1920 his parents sent him to Philadelphia, where he studied Commerce until 1924. At his insistence, he was permitted to study Painting at the Pennsylvania Academy, where he took a short summer course. Due to differences with his professors, he never finished the course, which were the only painting studies he ever took. He returned home the following year, he had no wife.
Soon after his return, he started painting professionally, while working as an accountant at the Lonja del Comercio (Havana's Stock Exchange). In 1925 he participated in his first exposition, and in 1927 two of his nudes were retired from the Exposition of New Arts of Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
after being considered "exaggeratedly realistic". 1927, however, marks the year when the Cuban Vanguardia movement made its first steps, mainly thanks to this exposition, and the artists that participated in it would later become the higher exponents of the movement.
The episode convinced Enríquez to return to the United States. After breaking up with Alice Neel, he returned to Cuba in 1930 with their daughter Isabetta. That same year, another of his expositions is aborted due to the allegedly explicit content of his paintings. He again left Cuba, this time for Europe, mainly Spain and France, where he continued his painting career and got in touch with Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
and surrealism
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
, currents that will radically influence his work. Some of his best works were produced in this period: Bacteriological Spring and Virgen del Cobre (which is the patron saint of Cuba).
He returned to Cuba in 1934, and started a new pictorial style, which would become his trademark. He named it Romancero Guajiro (countryman's romance), a modernist
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
approach to the stories and colors of the Cuban countryside. Like the case of the other vanguardia artists, the reencounter with his native land provided the catalyst for his mature style and his commitment to express Cuban realities and myths. The subjects were often inspired by popular myths and social realities. One of his preoccupations as an artist concerned the expression of an authentic Cuban-Caribbean culture, which he believed was only to be found in the countryside, in its Creole people, myths, and legends. His interest in the representation of the life outside Havana was also motivated by his belief that the real Cuba lay outside the capital. Enríquez's Romancero Guajiro was strongly influenced by some of the core ideas of modernist primitivism. His primitivism, however differs from that of Antonio Gattorno
Antonio Gattorno
Antonio Gattorno was the first Cuban artist of his generation to achieve an international reputation as a universal contemporary that transcended his ethnicity. He is one of the founders of Cuba's Modernist Movement, yet he is also one of the most underrated major painters of the 20th...
and Eduardo Abela
Eduardo Abela
Eduardo Abela was a Cuban painter and comics artist. Born in San Antonio de los Baños, he studied at the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, graduating in 1921. For the next decade he lived abroad, first in Spain and then in France...
in that it does not represent the guajiros as simple, calm, and noble, but as raw, violent, and restless. His painting Rey de los Campos de Cuba (King of the Cuban Fields) received first prize in 1935's National Exposition of Painters and Sculptors.
Rise to fame and death
Near 1939, he bought a small bungalow in the Arroyo Naranjo area of Havana, which he baptized El Hurón Azúl (the Blue FerretFerret
The ferret is a domesticated mammal of the type Mustela putorius furo. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males being substantially larger than females. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur...
). This remained his home for the rest of his life. Here he painted one of his most famous works: El Rapto de las Mulatas (the kidnapping of the Mulatto Women). A transposition of the Rape of the Sabine Women to the Cuban fields, it is said that Enríquez had a horse brought to his workshop, tied Sara Cheméndez (his female model at the time) to the horse and had the animal lash
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
ed, in order to have a more realistic scene for the painting. The same year, he was again awarded a prize in the National Exposition for this painting, and published his first novel, Tilín García.
In the 40s, he wrote two more novels (La Vuelta de Chencho and La Feria de Guaicanama, which were published posthumously on 1960), illustrated books, held conferences and expositions in several countries, wrote articles for different magazines, and continued to paint. He also received another prize in 1946's National Exposition for his painting La Arlequina.
His life was marked by alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. During the 50s his health weakened, and he suffered several problems with broken bones, allegedly caused by his unregulated way of living. He is said to have had severe economical problems, for the same reason. He died on May 2, 1957, while painting in his study. That same day, a personal exposition was to be inaugurated (it was of course delayed a month after news of his death). His house in Havana is now a small museum with about 140 paintings by Enríquez, and a number of sketch
Sketch (drawing)
A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not usually intended as a finished work...
es and writings. The house also acts as the meeting center for a small organization of young Cuban artists, named Hurón Azúl.
Style
Enríquez' signature visual language was mainly composed by fluid lines, overlapping color forms, transparencies and dynamic figure compositions. His works usually aimed at depicting the Cuban countryside's history, myths and folklore. Poor peasants, bandits, sensual women, restless horses, and landscapes of palm trees and rolling hills were his common subjects. One of the foremost examples of Enríquez's romancero guajiro and of his painting in general is El Rapto de las mulatas (The Abduction of the Mulatto Women, 1938), in which Enríquez includes some of the above named elements of his iconography: aggressive rural men, sensual mulatto women, restless horses, and windswept landscape of rolling hills. Its heated emotional subject of abduction and potential rape is not only depicted, but forcefully expressed through a personal visual language of pulsating and diaphanous color-forms. Enríquez's paintings are about ecstasy when they are not about violence, for in both themes he identified one of the fundamental characteristics of his latitudes-the strident, orgasmic, experience of finiteness.He also painted portraits and self-portraits, a large number of nudes and a handful of still lifes. He described his work in the following manner:
"My work is in a constant state of evolution towards the interpretation of images produced between vigilance and sleep, Nevertheless, I am not a surrealist. Currently, I am interested in interpreting the sensibility of a Cuban, American or continental atmosphere but removed from the methods of the European schools. To do otherwise would be like trying to resolve that which is ours with foreign formulas, for oriental art is as distant from my sensibility (though it may move me) as is the art of Picasso."
Enríquez was also an accomplished writer and illustrator. He published 3 books and a number of essays and articles. He also provided the illustration artwork for books by Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Guillén
Nicolás Cristóbal Guillén Batista was a Cuban poet, journalist, political activist, and writer. He is best remembered as the national poet of Cuba.Guillén was born in Camagüey, Cuba...
and Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier y Valmont was a Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist who greatly influenced Latin American literature during its famous "boom" period. Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Carpentier grew up in Havana, Cuba; and despite his European birthplace, Carpentier strongly self-identified...
, two famous Cuban writers that were friends of the painter and regularly visited his workshop.
Collections
Enríquez' art started having wide recognition during his life-time, currently his work is permanently displayed in the following museums and collections around the world:- National Museum of Havana (or Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes).
- Museum of Modern ArtMuseum of Modern ArtThe Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, New York. - El Hurón Azúl, Havana.
- Cuban Foundation Museum, Daytona Beach.
- Cuban Museum of Art and Culture, Miami.
A number of Enríquez' paintings and drawings are as well present in several private collections in Cuba, Latin America, the United States and Europe.