Official Visual Arts Competitions

In September 1937, the official “Gazette of the Republic” published the terms of a visual arts competition organized by the Ministry of Public Instruction and Health. This initiative, proposed by the Directorate General of Fine Arts, aimed to support artists in the face of the paralysis of the exhibition system and the collapse of the art market caused by the war. At the same time, it sought to respond to “the need to capture the artistic exaltation inspired by the heroic deeds of the Spanish people”. The selected works in painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking would be brought together in a major exhibition intended to continue the Spanish artistic tradition, filling the gap left by the interruption of the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, the official arts competition since the mid-19th century. The exhibition was, in theory, to be the first of several, as the authorities hoped to hold quarterly shows.

The reality, however, was quite different. The so-called First Quarterly Exhibition of Visual Arts was inaugurated in Barcelona in August 1938, after experiencing several setbacks. Nevertheless, the selection of works met expectations, as most depicted themes related to the “heroic deed.” Among the prizewinning artists was Francisco Mateo who received an honourable mention in the print making category for six prints from his Salamanca! series , a collection of nine etchings (cover included) dedicated to the city that was Franco’s headquarters until its moved to Burgos and to its Francoist sympathizers, as can be seen in the image. Other winners included Ramón Gaya in painting with Horror, his depiction of the bombing of the civilian population in Almería; Josep Viladomat with his sculpture of the soldier El Madriles; Arturo Souto, who won first prize for print making,  and Antonio Rodríguez Luna in drawing with The Fascist Beast, among other works characterized by a style rooted in Surrealism.

There would be only one more official state exhibition: the Autumn Competition, held in Barcelona in December 1938. Unlike the previous contest, war-related themes were much less prominent, even though the number of exhibitors and works was greater. Critics praised the avant-garde style of painter and printmaker Pedro Flores, as well as the pen of Rodríguez Luna, who once again lashed out at the enemy in his biting drawings. No information is available regarding the outcome of this competition, which took place as the war was turning increasingly against the Republic. The course of events prevented the government from organizing further contests, and it was not until 1941 that the National Exhibitions were resumed under the Francoist regime.

IEG