Rufino Tamayo, 1899 - 1991 | Signed: Tamayo 40, l/r | Media: Watercolor & gouache on paper | Dimensions: 16 by 20 inches

Rufino Tamayo lived and painted throughout the world. As a result he came in contact with many important artists and was influenced by Impressionism, Fauvism, and Cubism; however, his work always had a strong Mexican feel. Unlike his contemporaries in Mexico, he never got caught up in works that had a strong revolutionary, propagandistic subject matter. Women were frequently the subject of his art. His palette was usually limited to a few colors. The present offering was painted when he was a resident of New York from 1937 to 1949. He was well received by both artists and collectors in what was becoming the center of the art world and had exhibitions at the prestigious Knoedler Gallery and Marlborough Gallery. In his later years he returned to Mexico where he was instrumental in establishing the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum that is dedicated to his artistic creations and works by other artists and artifacts that were in his personal collection.

Accompanying this painting is a letter in Spanish and translated into English that was written by Hugo Arguelles, a well-known Mexican playwright and director, who at one time owned the present offering.

In a most attentive way I recount this letter to the one who corresponds (fits)

The work that I describe is true of my private collection and has always been, having been acquired from the artist and muralist Mexican Rufino Tamayo and his authorship. The work is a watercolour and gouache on role of 40.50 x 50.50 cm, entitled ‘Women in the Morning’. The work was performed in Mexico City in the year of 1940, and is signed and dated by the author which is an original work of the artist.

For the purposes and effects of,

Hugo Arguelles