{"product_id":"print-by-lourdes-gomez-franca","title":"Sketch of a Woman, original art, by Lourdes Gomez-Franca","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis piece is an original, signed mixed media on paper by well known Cuban artist, Lourdes Gomez-Franca and depicts the ketch of a woman.  It was purchased from the artist sometime between 1970-1980.  It is matted, framed and with glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasures 17\" wide x 20\" tall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a vintage item.  It is in good vintage condition.  There are some scuff marks along the frame though the frame itself is rustic in nature,  Some wear and tear is always expected with vintage items due to their age and use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLourdes Gómez Franca, better known simply as \"Lourdes\", was a Cuban-American painter and poet who was active in Cuba and the United States. Her work was significant in Miami and Cuban art communities of the later twentieth century and covered by many critics and scholars.  \u003c\/span\u003eShe was born in \u003ca title=\"Havana\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eHavana\u003c\/a\u003e in 1933, where she was raised and developed a passion for art early in life.  She studied trained as a painter in Cuba and later in France before eventually fleeing to \u003ca title=\"Miami\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMiami\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca title=\"Florida\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFlorida\u003c\/a\u003e in 1960 during the \u003ca title=\"Cuban exile\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCuban exile\u003c\/a\u003e following the \u003ca title=\"Cuban Revolution\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eCuban Revolution\u003c\/a\u003e of 1959. She would remain there and paint the rest of her life until her death in 2018. Over the course of her more than fifty-year career, she had occasional exhibitions of her paintings and wrote several poetry collections, including some collaborative works with friend and fellow Cuban artist \u003ca title=\"Pablo Cano\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePablo Cano\u003c\/a\u003e. She struggled with \u003ca title=\"Schizophrenia\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eschizophrenia\u003c\/a\u003e for most of her life, a theme explored in a number of her works and interviews.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStylistically, Gomez-Franca is known for her vivid use of color, heavy \u003ca title=\"Impasto\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eimpasto\u003c\/a\u003e, and flowing, child-like \u003ca title=\"Expressionistic\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"yiv2455321796mw-redirect\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eExpressionistic\u003c\/a\u003e imagery. Her subject matter ranged from interpretive portraits of friends to lush \u003ca title=\"Landscape art\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"yiv2455321796mw-redirect\" target=\"_blank\"\u003elandscapes\u003c\/a\u003e, often rural and tropical, and seasides recalling both scenes of her childhood as well as newfound inspiration from life in Miami. Other common themes and series include \u003ca title=\"Still life\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003estill lifes\u003c\/a\u003e (especially flowers and fruit), animals (especially roosters and fish), and spiritual imagery, such as \u003ca title=\"Angels\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"yiv2455321796mw-redirect\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eangels\u003c\/a\u003e and the \u003ca title=\"Virgin Mary\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"yiv2455321796mw-redirect\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVirgin Mary\u003c\/a\u003e. She left many of her works untitled – even undated in some cases – letting them speak for themselves in her typically pure and straightforward manner; when titles are given, they are likewise simple, unpretentious, and directly descriptive. She usually signed her paintings simply with \"Lourdes\" and on occasion would leave preliminary sketches on the backside of her canvases. Many of her paintings are introspective and show unique glimpses into her perspective as a female immigrant as well as her life-long struggle with mental illness. As such, she captured the world as she saw and experienced it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CGA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51971616538916,"sku":"CGA040","price":875.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0989\/8947\/4084\/files\/IMG_8728.jpg?v=1771443189","url":"https:\/\/www.handandsouldecor.com\/products\/print-by-lourdes-gomez-franca","provider":"Hand and Soul Decor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}