FRANCISCO MATEOS GONZÁLEZ (Seville, 1894 - Madrid,... Lot 31

FRANCISCO MATEOS GONZÁLEZ (Seville, 1894 - Madrid, 1976). "Fisherman of fantasies", 1970. Oil on canvas. Signed in the lower left corner. Signed, dated and titled on the back. Size: 111 x 92 x 4 cm; 100 x 82 cm (frame). The singular poetics of Francisco Mateos is manifested in this painting in which a costumbrista theme has been reinvented with overflowing imagination. The zoomorphic and simplified features of the figures, the contrasting chromatism, the abstract background and the absence of naturalism are some of the elements that indicate Mateos's strong links with 20th century avant-garde painting such as surrealism, cubism and fauve. Considered one of the initiators of Spanish Expressionism, Francisco Mateos began his career as an illustrator for the press until 1921, when he received a three-year scholarship that enabled him to study in Germany, France and Belgium, where he became acquainted with Central European Expressionism at first hand. After a brief period in Spain, in 1927 the painter made another trip around Europe, during which he exhibited at the Paris gallery Tempo. He returned to Spain in 1930 and took part in the 2nd Salon des Indépendants, while at the same time producing illustrations for various publications. During the war he devoted himself to socialist propaganda and took part in the Paris International Exhibition of 1937. After exile he returned to the art scene with exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art (1948) and the Layetanas Galleries (1950). In his works, Mateos expressed a very personal interpretation of everyday life, in the manner of a sarcastic, tragic and grotesque manifesto of Spain.