Botero

by Mariana Hanstein

Fernando Botero is an artist with his own style. For more than six decades, the Colombian’s “Boterismo” technique has captured collectors, institutions, and public spaces worldwide with a unique, fleshy, overblown approach to the human body. Through these corpulent creations, Botero has become one of the most recognized artists from Latin America, his artworks displayed in prominent places around the globe, including Park Avenue in New York City and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This TASCHEN Basic Art edition offers an essential introduction to this leading figure of figures in contemporary art. Tracing Botero’s oeuvre from his earliest caricatures of animals through to recent large-scale bronze sculptures, the book examines the artist’s diverse array of influences, from Paolo Uccello to Abstract Expressionism, and celebrates the wit, irony, insight, and critical acumen that round out his compositions, however absurd the proportions. About the series Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance a concise biography approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

96 pages, Hardcover

Published August 30, 2017

Reviews

[Luciana Nery · Rating 5 out of 5]

The usual Taschen quality, that is, excellent text (context, biography, analyses of main works and their impacts), also beautiful and carefully chosen artworks. I have visited Colombia and saw many of his paintings and sculptures, and in my opinion Taschen has been very successful in choosing his most representative works of his career.

This book gives you more insight about Botero's oeuvre, which goes way beyond what he's well-known for: chubby and funny characters. Because some figure are quite sad, despondent and even violet. Back to the subject of fun, I suggest googling Fernando Botero Animal Paintings, for poodles, tabbies, tigers, etc.

[Maristela · Rating 5 out of 5]

- full bodied, everything in excess, larger than life, no shadow, illuminated, distinct colors, 2D
- classically trained but created strong identity unique to himself, something that can be identified as colombian
- female bodies akin to ancient fertility figures, women stripped of lust or desire
- voluminous forms, still lifes and family portraits rounded too
- apolitical, fun, hard to pindown if critique of political figures or purely aesthetic. def a plus
- people like round, amusing
- on the come up same time as Garcia Marquez

[Sujin Suh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite artists FERNANDO BOTERO.