Spanish Artists

Spanish artist Juan Gris was actually born José Victoriano Carmelo Carlos González Pérez, however it was by his pseudonym that the world knew him. One of fourteen children, Gris was born to a wealthy Castilian merchant and paper manufacturer in 1887 in Madrid. In 1902, he studied at the School of Arts and Manufactures in Madrid, during which he created illustrations for local papers Blanco y Negro and Madrid Cómico. He soon quit his studies to pursue his true love, the career of an artist.

Studying for a year under academic artist José Maria Carbonero, Gris then left the country for Paris at the age of 19, where he met many prominent names in the artistic scene, many of whom were fellow Spaniards, such as Pablo Picasso. He was to remain in Paris for the rest of his life.

Although not a founder of Cubism, he soon acquired a distinct cubic style, influenced by Cézanne, Picasso and Braque.

His first one-man exhibition was held in Paris in 1919. In the early 20's he designed the stage sets and scenery for two ballet productions by Sergei Dijaghilev, The Temptations of the Shepherdess and The Dove. He also worked on personal paintings, using mainly gouache and watercolor techniques.

Some of his most famous work includes "Woman with a Basket", "The Red Book", "The Blue Tablecloth" and "Woman at a Window". Gris died at the young age of 40 from a serious asthma attack in May 1927.