Painting is the most genuine expression of fine arts on the
island. It could not develop in a coherent manner because its first expressions,
made by the aborigines in the caves, were discontinued when those communities
disappeared. With the conquest and evangelization process a religious kind of
painting prevailed, associated to catholic liturgy. Only in the 19th century,
when the San Alejandro academy was founded (1818), paintings by natives began to
flourish, designed to satisfy the European taste of Cuban bourgeoisie. The
Economic Association Friends of the Country created the Academy and its first
principal was French painter Jean Bautiste Vermay. By 1880 a new tendency in
Cuban painting was born, its main subject was landscapes. Outstanding in this
period were Esteban Chartrand and Valentin Sanz Carta. The works of Basque
Victor Patricio de Landaluze showed an interesting folkloric style. But
classicism still ruled in fine arts. The avant-gardist awakening of the '20s
(20th century) initiated a new period for Cuban painting. The modern movement
had its first and most important exhibit in 1927, sponsored by the magazine
Avance. Eduardo Abela, Victor Manuel, Antonio Gattorno, Carlos Enriquez and
others were starters of the vanguardist movement in Cuba. Following years were
of consolidation of the modern movement; this was evidenced at the celebration
of the First Modern Arts Salon on 1937. Then, young artists already showed a new
period in Cuban art that would build up to create, the so-called "School of
Havana" in 1940.
Painters like Rene Portocarrero, Amelia Pelaez and Mariano
Rodriguez are part of this movement. Wilfredo Lam returned to Cuba in 1942 after
a long stay in Europe and a studio experience with Pablo Picasso. On 1943 Lam
painted the work that immortalized him "The Jungle", which was
acquired by New York's MOMA. With the triumph of the revolution, the artistic
movement strengthened, since the foundation in 1962 of the National School of
Fine Arts. Very important personalities such as Raul Martinez and Antonia Eiriz
formed the body of professors. A few years later, in 1976, the Fine Arts College
of the High Institute of Arts was founded. The important patrimony of the last
decade gathers works of artists like Roberto Fabelo, Zaida del Rio, Tomas
Sanchez, Manuel Mendive and Nelson Dominguez. Young artists such as, Jose Bedia,
Kcho and Flavio Garciandia have occupied a privileged spot ahead of the new
styles of painting. During the last 30 years Cuban painting has shown great
capability to undertake the more important influences from the international
arts, with a creative and unique appearance, assuming at the same time a critic
attitude to continue defending the characteristic features of the Cuban
identity.
Cuban artist today are abundant, they provide a mixture of
past and future conceptions that are creating a worldwide attraction to the
works. Art festivals and market sales of these paintings can be found all over
the country. Who'll be the next Rembrandt? We will know in 100 years.
