Documents of Latin American and Latino Art

The Mexican paintings included at the Venice Biennale generated such unanimous excitement among the critics and the European public that a request was immediately submitted to the Venice board of directors and the director of the exhibition to ship [...]

The XXV Venice Biennale was held in 1950. The event has been held every two years since the beginning of the twentieth century. The prizes were established by the Presidency of the Ministers’ Council: one for a foreign painter and another for an [...]

In spite of the campaign of negative criticism against him, Rufino Tamayo said he was pleased with the way he had been received by the people of Mexico. He also said that a Mexican’s success was always a source of great satisfaction. Tamayo was [...]

Rufino Tamayo believed that he had the moral authority to speak out and deny what Siqueiros was saying about his failure at the Venice Bienniale. Tamayo pointed out that, although he did not win any prizes, the Italian government bought one of his [...]

RufinoTamayo suspected that a mafia mob was standing in the way of the free development of Mexican painting. He complained of being the main target of the attacks, especially concerning his performance at the Venice Bienniale. The Italian and French [...]

In the wake of the critical reactions to two exhibitions of Mexican art—at the 25th Venice Biennial in 1950 and the 1952 Paris Biennial —this long document offered readers a summary of events. The Venice Biennial was deemed a success while the [...]