Andrés Curruchich
Encyclopedia
Andrés Curruchich (19 January 1891 - 18 February 1969) was a Guatemala
n naïve
painter of the Kaqchikel people from the Kaqchikel town of San Juan Comalapa.
Andrés Curruchich is considered the first and most important of the naïve painters of San Juan Comalapa. He was born in 1891, and began to paint in the 1920s as a means to try to earn extra money. In the 1930s and 1940s he was invited to exhibit his works in various festivals and fairs in Guatemala. By 1950 his work was known in Guatemala City, and at this time he began to paint in oils on canvas. During the 1950s he exhibited in Guatemala City and at various galleries in the United States. His work depicted the life of his native Mayan people in very simple and understandable form. Curruchich was awarded the Order of the Quetzal
by the Guatemalan government in 1960 for his value and contribution to the nation, as well as a small pension. He died in 1969.
There is a permanent exhibition of his work at the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing
in Guatemala City
;
Andrés Curruchich spawned a colony of Kaqchikel painters in San Juan Comalapa, which has become a centre for Maya
n naïve art in Guatemala. Some 500 artists work in the town, many of them trained by Curruchich. Among those currently best known today are Oscar Peren, Paula Nicho Cumes, Rosa Elena Currichich and María Elena Curruchiche, both granddaughters of Andrés Curruchich.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n naïve
Naïve art
Naïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true...
painter of the Kaqchikel people from the Kaqchikel town of San Juan Comalapa.
Andrés Curruchich is considered the first and most important of the naïve painters of San Juan Comalapa. He was born in 1891, and began to paint in the 1920s as a means to try to earn extra money. In the 1930s and 1940s he was invited to exhibit his works in various festivals and fairs in Guatemala. By 1950 his work was known in Guatemala City, and at this time he began to paint in oils on canvas. During the 1950s he exhibited in Guatemala City and at various galleries in the United States. His work depicted the life of his native Mayan people in very simple and understandable form. Curruchich was awarded the Order of the Quetzal
Order of the Quetzal
The Order of the Quetzal is Guatemala’s highest honor. Established in 1973, it is bestowed by the Government of Guatemala. The award acknowledges officials of nations, organizations and other entities whose artistic, civic, humanitarian, or scientific works merit special recognition....
by the Guatemalan government in 1960 for his value and contribution to the nation, as well as a small pension. He died in 1969.
There is a permanent exhibition of his work at the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing
Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing
Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing or Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena is a museum in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The museum explores the Guatemalan traditions of dress throughout the country and also has notable collections of ceramics, textiles, jewelry and books. The museum is...
in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
;
Andrés Curruchich spawned a colony of Kaqchikel painters in San Juan Comalapa, which has become a centre for Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
n naïve art in Guatemala. Some 500 artists work in the town, many of them trained by Curruchich. Among those currently best known today are Oscar Peren, Paula Nicho Cumes, Rosa Elena Currichich and María Elena Curruchiche, both granddaughters of Andrés Curruchich.