A number of years back, while I was in New York to arrange for my solo show, I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view the closing days of an exhibition titled "Barcelona
The exhibition was of interest to me because (despite my 'waspy' name), I am 50% Hispanic.
My Grandfather was from Puerto Rico but my grandmother was born in Barcelona
Alejandro de Riquer
(1856-1920)
What a thrill it was to encounter 4 of his works as I walked through the galleries.
The show traced his and other late 19th century Barcelona artist's Art Nouveau roots on up through the 20th century modernist work of Picasso, Miro, & Dali whose intellectual center was the Cafe Quatre Gats.
(left) Riquer: Cover illustration for the Quatre Gats Art Journal 1899
(right) Picasso: Drawing to publize the 4 Gats Cafe 1900
I'm so glad I hung on to my little collection of his prints and drawings that have been passed down to me and I cherish them all the more having seen his work in the context of his generation of artists. Most of the print engravings are "exlibris" commissioned by wealthy families to personalize their books.
This one below however is so large I framed it up to be admired on a wall.
This one below however is so large I framed it up to be admired on a wall.
Engraving: exlibris "Casa Davalos"
detail below
As I am able to remove the glass to photograph them, I hope to continue posting some more images of his work in this blog at a future time.
With Art Nouveau interests on both sides of my family, I guess it is not surprising that my vision remains steadfastly planted in "organic" imagery.
Very interesting, your forebear in art! And I wouldn't give short shrift to the ex libris designs--they are highly collectible, those little worlds.
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