“I know of no other modern artist who is so naturally penetrated with a sacred conception of the universe and a sacred sense of life, who has approached myth and magic with such seriousness and simplicity and who is so purely inspired by ritual and fable." André Pieyre de Mandiargues
Francisco Toledo, a Oaxacan native of Zapotec origin, was born in the town of Juchitán in 1940. He began his artistic studies at the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Oaxaca, where he exhibited pronounced natural talent. At the age of seventeen, Toledo moved to Mexico City to continue training at the Taller Libre de Grabado, where he met the renowned Mexican painter Rufino Tamayo, who would later influence his work. Toledo’s innate talent was undeniable even at this very young age. He soon moved to Paris, where he successfully exhibited his work for the next five years from 1960 through 1965. A true wunderkind, Toledo was well received by French art critics and artist alike.
It was during this period that Toledo created the present lot, Sin título, 1965. This artistic treasure is a careful compilation of intimate gouaches, executed by Toledo during the early stages of his auspicious career. The vibrant colors, experimental mixing of media and complex compositions reflect Toledo’s preoccupation with nature and the human form. Toledo is not concerned with adhering to reality but rather creates a fantastic realm where the ancient world of myth and magic are explored through his personal vision of the modern world. However, Toledo remains dedicated to a physical exploration of material, never forgetting the power of the media he manipulates. This creative drive has led to infinite experimentations in painting, watercolor, sculpture, pottery and the graphic arts. in this particular series of works on paper, as in much of his oeuvre, Toledo fuses man and beast, creating sensual, tactile creatures depicted in bold painterly brushstrokes and streaked with glowing areas of gold leaf. The power and intimacy of this work convey the artist’s unique vision of the world through individual compositions that provide insight into his process and imagination, as well as future developments in his style.