Composición 1934

Esteban Frances made this work of unknown date using pencil and crayon on paper. The effect is intense, surreal. The graphic techniques used here are quite straightforward. The artist built up tones and textures with hatching, and then added color with crayon to bring emphasis. The smudging of the crayon contributes to the dreamlike quality. These aren't esoteric materials, or techniques dependent on specialized training, but instead immediately available to the artist. The figures and space are rendered with a feverish energy, as though the hand could barely keep up with the artist’s imagination. The artist's hand is evident in every square inch of the composition. There's no mechanical reproduction here, no delegation of labor. It's a single vision, brought to life by the intimate application of graphite and wax to paper. By emphasizing these humble means, Frances reminds us that artistic expression can be direct and unmediated.