Enrique Galdos Rivas
(b. 1933, Peruvian)
"Tarde de Sol," 1963
Oil on canvas
Signed and dated lower right: Galdos Rivas; signed again, titled, and inscribed verso: Lima Peru / No. 25
52" H x 68.5" W
Provenance: The Estate of John Simpson McKaughan Jr.

Other Notes: Enrique Gerardo Galdos Rivas, born 1933 in Lima, Peru, is a prominent Peruvian artist celebrated for his vivid and captivating paintings that intricately weave together elements of Peruvian culture, history, and mythology. Galdos Rivas was surrounded by the vibrant colors, rich textures, and diverse traditions of his homeland from a young age, which would† influence his artistic vision upon graduating from the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1959. After graduating with honors, Rivas's renown in South America grew exponentially, receiving scholarships to travel and work in Brazil in 1961 and Argentina in 1967. By the end of the first decade of his career, Rivas had exhibited at numerous Biennials,† from Sao Paulo to Paris.

One of the defining characteristics of Galdos Rivas's art is his unique ability to blend traditional Peruvian motifs and symbolism with Modernist artistic techniques. Drawing inspiration from indigenous cultures, colonial history, and modern society, his paintings often feature a striking juxtaposition of ancient iconography with abstraction. Galdos Rivas' use of wild and vivid colors earned him the nickname "The Magician of Color." Galdos Rivas has been noted as a progenitor of the genre of painting known as "Ancestralism," where cultural iconographies are processed through Modern or Abstract Expressionist sensibilities. In explaining his artistic process, Galdos Rivas says:

"A long time ago I painted the huacos of the Nazca culture. First I made them as they are, then I abstracted them. Little by little I was losing the figure, the shape of the huaco, until there was no trace of it, only the color." (El Comercio, May 20, 2023)

Galdos Rivas has gained recognition both domestically and internationally for his exceptional talent and contributions to the art world. His awards include the Meritorious Personality of Culture from the Ministry of Culture of Peru and the Diploma of Recognition granted by the Congress of the Republic of Peru, an Honorable Mention at the Sao Paulo Biennial, Brazil in 1965 and the V Prize II at the Cordova Biennial in Argentina in 1964, among others. His works have been featured in numerous exhibitions, galleries, and museums worldwide.

Visual: Overall good condition. Soft stretcher bar creases along the left and lower edges. Two nickel-sized soft pressure marks in the upper portion of the left edge. A pea-sized, unobtrusive puncture to the canvas in the extreme lower edge, at left.

Blacklight: No evidence of restoration.

Frame: 52.5" H x 69" W x 2" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.