Pablo O'Higgins
(1904-1983, Mexican)
"A Young Girl"
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: P. O'Higgins; titled on a label affixed to the lower portion of the frame, verso
23.5" H x 18.5" W
Other Notes: According to a label written by Sterling Franklin on 2/82, affixed to the frame, verso, this painting "was donated to the Law Center for educational purposes in December 1981," and continues to say, "We are holding it for three years and then intend to sell it (thus sale [sic] sometime in 1985)."

Paul Higgins Stevenson was born on March 1, 1904, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to an Irish-American father and a Mexican mother. His childhood was marked by his family's frequent moves between the United States and Mexico due to his father's work as a railway engineer. While studying art in San Diego, O'Higgins grew impatient with academic instruction and permanently moved to Mexico City in 1922. In 1924, O'Higgins enrolled at the San Carlos Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under and befriended the renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.

Inspired by Rivera's politically charged murals and the burgeoning Mexican muralist movement, O'Higgins became deeply involved in social and political activism. He joined the Mexican Communist Party and collaborated with Rivera on several mural projects, including the famous murals at the National Preparatory School in Mexico City. O'Higgins played a significant role in the Mexican labor movement, using his art as a tool for social change and advocating for the rights of workers and peasants.

Throughout his career, O'Higgins remained committed to creating art that reflected the struggles and aspirations of the Mexican people. His style was characterized by bold lines, dynamic compositions, and a focus on the human figure. In addition to his mural work, O'Higgins was also a skilled printmaker, producing numerous linocuts and woodcuts that depicted scenes of everyday life in Mexico. O'Higgins co-founded the Taller de Grafica Popular workshop in 1937, blending his political activism with a belief in the power of art to inspire and transform.

Pablo O'Higgins's contributions to Mexican art and activism are widely recognized and celebrated. His murals can still be seen in various public buildings and institutions throughout Mexico, serving as enduring reminders of his dedication to social justice and his belief in the power of art to effect change. O'Higgins's work continues to inspire artists and activists alike, cementing his legacy as an important figure in Mexican art.

In his later years, O'Higgins continued to paint and remained active in political and social causes. He passed away on July 17, 1983, in Mexico City, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy that continues to resonate with audiences around the world.

Visual: Craquelure throughout, including areas of unstable craquelure, with attendant pigment losses, peeling and flaking to the pigment, and certain areas of dry bubbling to the pigment, all primarily in the outer edges of the background. A pinhead-sized area of pigment loss in the upper left portion of the figure's blue shirt, with an attendant pea-sized reverse pressure mark. A dime-sized pressure mark to the right of the figure's cheek and in the background. A stretcher bar crease along the lower edge. The canvas with minor ripples, presumably commensurate with the canvas slightly being loose from the stretcher.

Blacklight: Areas of restoration throughout the left and right side of the figure's head, and in the background.

Frame: 31" H x 26" W x 3" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.