JUAN GENOVÉS (1930-2020)
Indicio
2011

signed and dated 11; signed, titled and dated 2011 on the reverse
acrylic on canvas on wood panel

43 3/8 by 35 1/2 in.
110.2 by 90.2 cm.
Footnotes:
Provenance
Private Collection, New York
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner




'For me, the little figures fulfill the missions of realism and humanity, in that they represent how we are all the same, but also different.'
-Juan Genovés

Juan Genovés' Indicio is a vivid tableau that encapsulates the intricacies of human interaction, ethereal and tangible in equal measure. Painted in 2011, the present work offers the viewer a dynamic, kinetic landscape, where a symphony of silhouetted figures converges in a choreographed dance of color and motion. In vibrant hues of red, yellow, and orange, his distinctive figures are brought to life with richly applied acrylic paint, infusing the canvas with tactile vibrancy. Cast shadows anchor each figure's unique identity, while the inclusion of found objects, like beads, bestow unmistakable individuality upon each figure, amplifying the emotional resonance. Genovés expertly weaves a vibrant tapestry of collective life, masterfully employing the visual language of color and form to convey a profound sense of unity and discord within this crowd.

Born in València in 1930, Genovés grew up in the shadow of the Spanish Civil War, an experience that profoundly marked his psyche. Indicio evokes his memories of crowds in chaotic motion, as people sought refuge during wartime, a vision of humanity in transit, yearning for change. His distinctive style, honed over the years, emerges in full force here. It draws inspiration from the visual dynamism of Italian Futurism, echoing the energy of Giacomo Balla and Umberto Boccioni, yet transcends mere dynamism. Genovés's art delves into the complexities of human interaction, echoing the unresolved tensions between the individual and the collective.

Offering a bird's-eye view of a bustling human tapestry, his composition places the spotlight solely on the ceaseless motion of people. Lines interlacing the picture plane become both fractures within the image and guiding topographies for human flow, amplifying the emotional resonance.

Genovés's influence stretches beyond the canvas, etching itself indelibly into the annals of art history. His works grace over sixty museums and prominent public collections across the globe, including prestigious institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Centre National d'Art Contemporain in Paris, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, and the Museum Moderner Kunst in Vienna, among others.