José Hernández

JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ (Tangier, Morocco, 1944 - Málaga, 2013).
"The knight of the eternal return", 1980.
Mixed media on paper and graphite on ink.
Measurements: 70 x 50 cm; 80 x 60 cm (frame).
Known for his fantastic characters, a decade before making this work, José Hernández, began to introduce in his pieces a more synthetic aesthetic language. He tried to reduce cultural references, and focused his compositions on the essential. This work is an example of this artistic evolution, in it we can appreciate the legacy of the Spanish Baroque still life tradition, with that vertical asparagus. In addition, the way of composing the scene in two spaces, manages to bring depth to the scene. This is a totally traditional resource.
José Hernández is one of the great references of Spanish contemporary art. His work is one of the most personal and brilliant contributions to the fantastic art of the last decades, both as a painter and draughtsman, illustrating the works of Buñuel, James Joyce, Rimbaud, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer or Akutagawa, as well as designing scenery and costumes in works by García Lorca, Calderón de la Barca, Cervantes, Francisco Nieva or Carlos Saura.his first individual exhibition took place in Tangier in 1962, showing his work again two years later at the Edurne gallery in Madrid. From 1966 onwards he held personal exhibitions and took part in international fairs in Spain as well as in Paris, Brussels and Tokyo, among other cities. His intense creative work extends over five decades, forming one of the most outstanding careers, not only in the Spanish art scene, but also in the world, given its significant international projection. Throughout his career he has received awards for his work in painting, drawing, engraving and scenography in Spain, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Italy, Norway and Yugoslavia, among them the National Prize of Plastic Arts (Madrid, 1981), the International Biella per L'Incisione (Italy), and the Medals of Honor of the International Exhibition of Modern Ex Libris of Malbork (Poland) and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel of Hungary in Seville. His work is represented in numerous public collections and museums in Spain, Germany, the United States, Finland, Luxembourg, Chile, Poland, Norway, Bulgaria, Mexico, France and Italy.