Author Description

Based on a broad-ranging monographic exhibition at the Picasso Museum, Spain, of the various stages in the career of the Spanish-born painter María Blanchard (1881–1932). Explore the captivating journey of María Blanchard, a Spanish painter whose remarkable talent was overlooked in her time due to prevailing gender biases in the art world. Discover how Blanchard's personal struggles influenced her artwork, as themes of isolation, melancholy, and resilience permeate her paintings. Witness Blanchard's artistic evolution from her early Cubist works to her later emotionally charged paintings, characterized by bold colors. The catalog offers a chronological journey through the different stages in the artistic life of the Spanish painter María Blanchard (Santander, 1881-1932). Its aim is to highlight the symbolic richness and innovative character inherent in her work during her short artistic career. A substantial body of her work was not adequately appreciated in the cultural context of that time, which believed in the artistic inferiority of women. Committed to her unique way of living and creating until the end, she transcended the boundaries of gender stereotypes. The vast repertoire of work she left behind, including maternity scenes, domestic scenes, children, and workers, reflects a heartfelt female concern for the vulnerability of the human condition and the evocative power of emotions. These aspects are reinforced by a meticulous technical mastery and a keen interest in the history and tradition of European painting.