Manolo Valdés

Marlborough, Madrid & Barcelona
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Palma de Mallorca, Centro de Cultura Sa Nostra, Manolo Valdés: L'Arxipèlag de la Memòria, 2010

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is warmer in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. Upon very close inspection, there are a few scattered fine and stable cracks in the places throughout, in keeping with the artist's choice of medium and working process. There is a tiny media accretion to the top of the figure's dress on the reverse. There are a few further minor and unobtrusive surface irregularities and spots of wear in places, with a few tiny associated losses.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Manolo Valdés draws subjective inspiration from art-historical motifs, creating a new pictorial language that has led him to become one of the most original and prolific artists of modern-day Spain. Using a deeply personal and visual language to skilfully play tribute to many of the Old Masters, Valdés uses their work as a pretext to create an entirely new aesthetic object through which to examine ideas of cultural inheritance and aesthetic continuity. His approach to art is to focus not on the subject, but on the way art is created; for Valdés, the subject is simply the first step. Throughout his career, Valdés has explored his artistic practice through a variety of materials and medium, achieving a rawness and tangible quality in his art that is both powerful and evocative.

In this magnificent example, Valdés looks to Diego Velázquez's Infanta subject painted on numerous occasions for the court of King Philip IV. By focusing the subject of his artwork on this solitary figure and reducing her to her very basic form, she is at once removed from her historical context. Here, Valdés creates a completely new and purely formal approach to this iconic figure, eliminating all anecdotes. It is not therefore a mere mirroring of Velásquez's iconic subject, but rather a confrontation with it; a discovery of new possibilities and approaches.

Valdés' choice of terracotta allows him to explore the pure materiality of his subject. In this manageable size, the artist's working is clearly visible; he leaves bare the scoring and moulding, emphasising the artistic process as important as the finished work. By removing the features and details of the figure, Valdés also creates an abstract expressionism which further places the subject within a modern context. Infanta has become universally recognized as one of Manolo Valdés' most iconic subjects and this unique sculpture perfectly demonstrates the artist's innovative and expressive technique and the importance of his experimental process.