Fernando Botero: Biography and Work: Analysis of His Works and Unmistakable Style

THE WORK OF FERNANDO BOTERO

His work comprises nearly three thousand paintings and over two hundred sculptures, as well as numerous drawings and watercolors. His early paintings express the expressionist character of painting, but it was after years of learning and numerous travels that he acquired the style for which he became famous.

Botero has already made more than 50 individual exhibitions around the world, and his paintings reach high figures in the market, being found in different parts of the planet, always imbued with great artistic quality. In the production of his first works, the artist was influenced by the French painter Paul Gauguin and the Mexicans Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, through books and reproductions. At a friend's house, he liked to appreciate the reproduction of Pablo Picasso, “Woman in Front of the Mirror”, and another of a painting by Giorgio de Chirico.

The unmistakable characteristics of Botero's art received the name of “Boterismo”, as it portrays chubby figures, always with an exaggerated volume, which can denote political criticism or simply humor. His sculptural criticism, mainly, human greed. Although he works more with portraits, still lifes, and landscapes, they also make up his work, as well as sculpture.

When the artist was asked about why he painted fat people, he replied: “I don't paint fat people!”. At first glance, we might even think he's joking with us, because in good conscience we can't say that the people in his works are slim. On the contrary. But as we delve deeper into his analysis, we will see that he is right. The artist wants to say that he has his own style, that of painting all things voluminous, whether they are people, animals, or objects. Therefore, the exaggeration in sizes only treats of a style choice, the way he represents his art. We have already seen this deformation in the art of El Greco, with his sinuous, elongated, and cubist figures. And even in the deformation, his desire to show the sensuality of his figures is present.

Fernando Botero: Gallery of Some Paintings: 

REINTERPRETATIONS OF ART WORKS

We also find in his work some reinterpretations. The most famous, perhaps, is his version of the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci.  Other reinterpretations, such as the scene of a wedding by Jan van Eyck where the author portrays The Arnolfini Couple, among others...

Fernando Botero: SCULPTURES

Maintaining his style of using volumes, in this case, he uses shapes in his sculptures to portray his vision of people and customs.