Mercedes Pardo (1922-2005)

Galería Freites, Caracas
Acquired from the above by the present owner

This work is in good condition overall. The canvas is unlined and well-stretched on its original stretcher. The media layer is stable, and the colors are vibrant. Isolated areas of skillfully applied restoration are present primarily in the upper left and both lower quadrants of the work; the most significant of these are a six-inch horizontal line in the upper center quadrant and a seven-inch vertical line in the upper left quadrant, both in the field of purple.
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.

For a painter, pure colour exists, even though there are no “natural” colours!. They are an absolute and a virtual presence. Colours do not have a life independently from the painting as there are no musical notes if they are not played by an instrument. Was it Gauguin who said that he wanted his greens greener that those in nature? In Mercedes Pardo paintings, the colour stands out by its immaculateness. …/.. Pardo does not construct colourful shapes, she confronts the mystery of colour, its vibration, its inner force.

Maria Fernanda Palacios, Mercedes Pardo, Pintura y vida, Galeria de Arte Nacional, 1991 p. 44