Labyrinth I - Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

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Labyrinth I

Balerdi, Rafael

San Sebastián, 05/05/1934-Altea, Alicante, 11/03/1992

Oil on canvas

130.9 x 195.7 cm

Balerdi (bottom right hand corner)

1960

Second third of the 20th century

04/21

Donated by Hilde Koch in 2004

Tangle I is one of his earliest experiences in the informel movement, to which he brought the sensuality of his line and a certain naturalism. To be honest, neither the long, energetic brushstrokes, nor the colours he deploys in this painting are that far from some fragments of the paintings of Monet's late period. The composition's musicality, its lightness and luminosity, and its nod towards Oriental painting, so typical of informalism, give the painting a marvellously lyrical air. (Javier Viar)

Selected bibliography

Balerdi : la experiencia infinita = azkengabeko esperientzia [Cat. exp.]. Bilbao ; Donostia-San Sebastián, Rekalde Erakusketa Aretoa = Sala de Exposiciones Rekalde ; Koldo Mitxelena Erakusketaretoan = Sala de Exposiciones Koldo Mitxelena, 1993. p. 230, n° cat. 113.
Chillida, Balerdi, Larrea : Chillida, Balerdi, Larrea : três artistas em correlaçao [Cat. exp.]. Lisboa, Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian, Centro de Arte Moderna José de Azeredo Perdigao, 1995. p. 41.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao : guía. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2006. pp. 196-197.
Musée des Beaux Arts de Bilbao : guide. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2006. pp. 196-197.
Bilbao Fine Arts Museum : guide. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2006. pp. 196-197.
Guía Artistas Vascos. Bilbao, Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2008. pp. 149-151.
Gida Euskal Artistak. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Eder Museoa, 2008. p. 149.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao : guía. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2011. p. 196, n° cat. 140a.
Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa : gida. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2012. p. 196, n° cat. 140a.
Guide Basque Artists. Bilbao, Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, 2012. pp. 149-151, n° cat. 83a.
Arte japonés y japonismo [Cat. exp.]. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2014. pp. 112-113, il.
Bilbao Fine Arts Museum : guide. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2014. pp. 196-197.
Musée des Beaux Arts de Bilbao : guide. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2014. p. 196.
Viar, Javier. Historia del arte vasco : de la Guerra Civil a nuestros días, 1936-2016. Bilbao, Bilboko Arte Ederren Museoa-Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 2017. pp. 179-180, il.
L'art basque en resistance : Gaur, 1966 : euskal arte ihardukitzailea [Cat. exp.]. Bayonne, Musée Basque et de l'histoire de Bayonne, 2018. p. 138, il.
Viar, Javier. Hijos de la angustia. Bilbao, Muelle de Uribitarte, 2019. pp. 102, 127, il
Balerdi, 1934-1992 [Cat. exp.]. San Sebastián, Kutxa Fundazioa, 2017. pp. 16-17, 63, il.