Roberto Montenegro
La Tradición
1928
Etching and aquatint on wove paper with full margins (folded back at bottom)
Signed in pencil, dated 1928 and inscribed “ . . . 3”
12 1/2 x 12 1/2 in (31.7 x 31.7 cm)
While Roberto Montenegro (1885-1968, Mexico) began his artistic career as a contributor of drawings to the Mexican literary publication Revista Moderna, he eventually studied art in Mexico City and Paris. Montenegro was one of the first participants in the Mexican muralism movement, completing murals at the former monastery church of San Pedro and San Pablo, among others. Through his travels in Mexico, Montenegro became acquainted with and gained a strong appreciation for Mexican folk art. In 1947 he was appointed Director of the Popular Arts Department at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and he went on to curate numerous exhibitions. His dedication to folk art can often be witnessed in the aesthetic of his paintings and prints.