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| 'Basket of Plenty' (1922) by Angel Zárraga; Private Collection? |
It was not easy to choose a painting today. Finally I had opted for Dutch painter Pieter Janszoon Saenredam (well-known for his paintings of church interiors) but then found out there were conflicting dates for his death. So I looked further and stumbled upon Mexican painter Angel Zárraga, born on 16 August 1886. The painting 'Basket of Plenty' caught my eye because I had to think immediately of a painting by Julio Romero de Torres, even though they do not really resemble one another. Zárraga was one of the greatest Mexican painters of the early 19th century who spent more than half of his life abroad, about forty years in Europe, mostly in France. His work was influenced by Paul Cézanne and Giotto (after 1921). He was also a close associate of Diego Rivera, during their student years at the National School of Fine Arts in Mexican City and later in Paris. Today's painting shows most likely Zárraga's first wife, the Russian sportswoman Jeanette Ivanoff. She served as a model for her husband throughout his career. I like this painting with the warm, ruddy palette very much. I could not find its location but it had been put up for auction at one point so it's very likely that it is in private hands.
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