From Publishers Weekly
Spanish figurative painter Jorge Castillo takes as his theme human existence in all its precariousness, absurdity, beauty and solitariness. His haunting paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures unfold an ironic fable of humanity, a world of constantly metamorphosing forms invaded by fantasy images, ghosts of the unconscious, hermaphrodite beings, glimmers of death. Born in 1933, Castillo grew up in Argentina and has lived in Madrid, Paris, Berlin and, since 1979, in New York City. Although tinged with the shadows of Picasso and surrealism, his work stands on its own: a revelation, a challenge, an affront to the viewer's complacency. This hefty catalogue of a 1990 exhibition in Barcelona includes an examination by Spanish art historian Borras of Castillo's large, boldly frontal paintings of New York, city of violent contrasts; six additional essays by other scholars; and 283 plates, 188 in color.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Best known for his paintings, Castillo has brought new luster to Spain's reputation in the field of contemporary art. This monograph examines all his oeuvre, including his technically elegant drawings, sketches for sculpture, and graphic work. Castillo's renown has grown greatly since a retrospective exhibition held in Barcelona in 1990. The book contains a series of essays on the artist's technical and historical context. However, the real value of this work lies in the 283 good quality illustrations. These images reveal much more about Castillo's intentions than any of the text. This work is primarily for specialized art collections and academic libraries attempting to cover modern art in great detail.
- Paula A. Baxter, NYPL
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
