Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999)

Acquired from the artist

This work is in very good condition overall. The canvas has been mounted to masonite. The colors are vibrant and the media layer is stable. Two diagonal fine lines of craquelure measuring one inch each are present in the impasto areas of Mary's cloak on the upper left side, and an additional area of fine craquelure is present in the black impasto near her feet in the lower left quadrant. Four white accretions measuring less than ¼ inch in diameter each are present in the lower half of the painting. Under ultraviolet examination, fluorescing occurs which is inherent to the media selected by the artist.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The names Orozco, Rivera, Portinari, Tamayo, and Guayasamín form the Andean spine of this continent. High and plentiful, tense and made of iron. At times they crash down like landslides, at others they remain naturally elevated. They are united by a geography of land and blood, and by their profound indigeneity.

Alone out of many, Guayasamín confronts in his work the Final Judgment, a task we had demanded of those solitary artists of the Renaissance. Few painters from our America have been as powerful as this unflinching Ecuadorean. He has the mark of strength; he is a host to all races; he makes appointments with storms, violence, and ambiguity; and patiently, before our very eyes, he transforms all this into light.

Approaching Guayasamín by Pablo Neruda
Isla Negra, Chile, 1969