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Carlos Mérida (1891-1984) Abstract Composition, 1968
Details
Signed and dated lower left “CARLOS MERIDA 1968”.
Sizes:
Frame: 117.5 × 77.5 cm | 46.3 × 30.5 in
Artwork: 110 × 70 cm | 43.3 × 27.6 in
In this 1968 masterpiece, Mérida explores the rhythmic intersection of geometric abstraction and indigenous Mayan motifs, a hallmark of his celebrated mature style. Set against a luminous gold-leaf background, the composition features a vibrant array of sharp, angular forms in a sophisticated palette of terracotta red, deep ochre, obsidian black, and crisp white. The arrangement possesses a distinct architectural quality, reminiscent of a complex totemic structure or a series of stylized figures in a cosmic dance.
Mérida’s use of gold leaf adds a celestial, sacred dimension to the work, reflecting his career-long fascination with integrating traditional Mexican craft materials with international Avant-Garde sensibilities. The precision of the linework and the dynamic balance of the floating shapes showcase Mérida’s mastery of “plastic rhythm,” a concept he pioneered to translate the essence of music and ancient architecture into visual form.
Condition Report
Excellent vintage condition; colors remain exceptionally vibrant; gold leaf is intact with a rich, uniform luster; minor surface marks consistent with age; housed in a minimalist black frame.
Authenticity & Buyer Information
This lot is catalogued under the artist’s name without qualification and is covered by our Five-Year Authenticity Guarantee under Section 4 of the Conditions of Sale. The guarantee concerns authorship; it does not extend to provenance, dating, condition or value, which are described to the best of our knowledge.
Buyers should review the catalogue carefully and raise any questions before bidding; additional information is not ordinarily provided after the auction.
5-Year Authenticity Guarantee
Five years on authorship for works catalogued under the artist’s name without qualification (Section 4 of our Conditions of Sale); headings such as “Attributed to” or “Circle of” are sold as described.
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Questions about this lot
How does the estimate compare with the artist’s recent auction results?
The estimate of €20,000–€30,000 is our opinion of the range this work should reach; the starting price of €10,000 is the lowest bid we accept. We have not published comparable results for this lot; ask us before the sale and we will send the results we based the estimate on.
What will this lot cost in total?
Bidding on this site, the buyer’s premium is 25%, Spanish IVA included, and there is no VAT on the hammer price and no card fee: at the starting price of €10,000 the total is €12,500; at the low estimate of €20,000 the total is €25,000; at the high estimate of €30,000 the total is €37,500.
Through LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Drouot or Bidspirit the premium is 30%, so the same hammer of €30,000 costs €39,000 there. Shipping and insurance are quoted separately; the estimator on this page gives the figure for your country. Buyers outside the EU pay no Spanish tax on the lot; the destination’s import rules apply (United States: original paintings and drawings enter duty-free; United Kingdom: 5% import VAT on art). Card payments are accepted up to €10,000; larger amounts by bank transfer.
Is the attribution covered by the Five-Year Authenticity Guarantee?
Yes. This lot is catalogued under the artist’s name without qualification, so it carries our Five-Year Authenticity Guarantee under Section 4 of the Conditions of Sale: if the authorship proves materially incorrect, you may return the work within five years for a refund of the purchase price. The guarantee concerns authorship; provenance, dating, condition and value are described to the best of our knowledge and are not guaranteed.
Can I see the condition report, more photographs or the work itself?
A condition report with ultraviolet photographs is prepared on request, normally within two working days; the condition summary on this page is examined in-house and is not a conservator’s report. Further photographs of any detail, the reverse or the frame are sent on request. The work can be examined in our Barcelona showroom by appointment before the sale, and you are welcome to send your own conservator or specialist.
Carlos Mérida
Carlos Mérida was a transformative figure in 20th-century art, instrumental in bringing abstract art to Mexico. Unlike many of his muralist contemporaries like Rivera or Siqueiros, who focused on social realism, Mérida sought to create a new “universal” language by synthesizing European Cubism and Surrealism with the ancient geometric patterns of his Mayan heritage.
His works are held in the permanent collections of the MoMA (New York), the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Museo de Arte Moderno (Mexico City).
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