Protesta

c. 1945

Francisco Dosamantes

Associated Names
Francisco Dosamantes

Artist, Mexican, 1911 - 1986

This painting depicts large, surreal hands holding a carved sculpture with ominous fist-like shapes and an eye surrounding it. The monochromatic scene is filled with dramatic, swirling lines, creating a dynamic sense of movement. In the bottom half, two large hands are open to hold a small sculpture of two figures, detailed with shading and texture. Above them, a series of large fists and an eye emerge from the background, evoking tension and surveillance. The artwork expresses themes of power and observation through expressive fists and a prominent eye. It combines realism with symbolic imagery, exploring themes of protection, oversight, and the human condition. It is created in the style of a socially-engaged 20th-century printmaker.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Frank B. Bristow, Falls Church, Virginia (Lugt 982a); Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1968; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower right in graphite: F. Dosamantes; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: "protesta"

Markings

recto: none; verso: stamped lower center in black ink: F.B.B. [circled, Frank Baker Bristow, Lugt 982a]

Watermarks

none

Wikidata ID

Q77013264

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