Joaquín Torres-García Montevideo, 1874-1949

Joaquín Torres-García (1874-1949), born in Montevideo, Uruguay, was a pioneering artist in Latin American Constructivism. At 17, he moved to Barcelona with his family, where he received his artistic education and became a key figure in the Noucentisme movement, which advocated a return to classicism and Mediterranean traditions.

His diverse career included painting, sculpture, toy making, and significant contributions to art theory.

 

In 1920, Torres-García began extensive travels, living in New York, Italy, and Paris. In Paris, he collaborated with avant-garde artists like Michel Seuphor, creating the group and magazine Cercle et Carré. He articulated his artistic philosophy in texts such as "Vouloir construire," emphasizing construction as the core objective of art. Over time, he developed a unique style called "Universalismo Constructivo," characterized by geometric relationships and pictograms, rooted in principles of proportion, unity, and structure.

 

Returning to Uruguay in 1934, Torres-García aimed to promote Constructivism in South America, founding the Taller Torres-García in 1942, which fostered a distinct Uruguayan and Latin American artistic identity known as the Escuela del Sur. His influential works include Estructura (1935) and Universalismo constructivo (1944).

 

Throughout his career, he exhibited with notable artists like Gaudí, Picasso, Mondrian, and Duchamp, and his works were displayed in prestigious venues worldwide, including the Musée national d'Art moderne in Paris and the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid. His legacy endures in collections at major institutions and the Fundación Torres-García in Montevideo.