El Presidente 1967

Oswaldo Guayasamin made "El Presidente" with paint, and I see a real process at play in how he put the colors together. It’s like he's building the face right in front of us. I love the way Guayasamin uses color to create form. The dark greens, browns and blacks feel heavy, almost oppressive, while the white around the mouth is really built up with paint. It's thick, sculptural, and gives this face a real sense of weight and presence. Look how those bright blue eyes stare out, almost cartoonish against the grim face. The eyebrows are like solid black bars. This guy has something to say, and he’s saying it loud. There’s an urgency here that reminds me of some of Picasso’s later portraits, that raw, emotional power. It's not about being pretty, it's about being real, and maybe a little scary too.