Enrique Orejudo Mendo

ENRIQUE OREJUDO MENDO (Spain, mid-20th century).
“Homage to Gustav Klimt.”
Carved and painted wood.
Signed in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 69 x 128 x 3 cm.
In this relief, Orejudo translates Gustav Klimt’s ornamental universe into the three-dimensional language of woodcarving, drawing inspiration from *Water Serpents II*, one of the Viennese artist’s most evocative compositions. The sinuous forms, ornamental character, and sensuality of the composition take on a new dimension here thanks to the relief and the pictorial treatment of the wood. The result establishes a suggestive dialogue between painting and sculpture, between traditional craftsmanship and the reinterpretation of an icon of Central European modernity. The richness of the forms and the polychrome finish transform the piece into an object with a strong decorative presence, in which Klimt’s influence blends with the distinctive language of Orejudo’s artisanal sculpture.
Enrique Orejudo was a great pioneer in the combined use of wood and alabaster, and to this day the firm that bears his name—founded in 1968 in Cabrerizos (Salamanca)—remains active. Orejudo quickly gained international recognition for the beauty, quality, and originality of his works, and in 1974 his workshop underwent its first expansion, occupying an entire three-story building. A second expansion took place in 1999. Today, the firm’s approach to its work remains unchanged, although it has evolved to combine traditional craftsmanship with new techniques developed by its artists. Independently, Enrique Orejudo created various works for Salamanca’s processional floats, as well as several coats of arms for the city’s Plaza Mayor.