Noe Canjura
Encyclopedia
Noe CanjuraNoe Canjura (Apopa
, El Salvador
, August 14, 1922 - Morienval
, France
, September 29, 1970) was a Salvadoran painter
and a prominent figure in 20th century modern art in France.
in Central America, to a family of landless peasants of humble origin. By the time of his decease he was recognized as one of the leading landscape, still life and figure painters of France.
As a youth Canjura was raised in intimate contact with the struggle of wrestling a livelihood from the infertile soil of his native village.
To pay part of his expenses and to lighten the weight of the sacrifices his father made to keep him in school, Canjura worked in a sawmill and often spent the night there, sleeping on bare boards.
His talent for drawing came to light when he was seventeen years old and, without knowing how or why, his adventure in the art world began. He first studies painting at the Academy of Painting of Valero Lecha in San Salvador (1942–1946).
Beginning in 1942 Canjura took part in all of the group exhibitions throughout El Salvador and several years later was exhibiting in Guatemala.
In 1948 he travelled to Mexico City to continue his studies, there he was strongly influenced by Diego Rivera
, who with Orozco
and Siqueiros
, was at the height of his fame. Gradually Rivera’s influence lessened and Canjura turned to the art of Gauguin, gaining from him the idea of formal order in painting and the use of curves.
The same year had his first exhibition in the United States.
for special studies in the technique of fresco painting, on grant issued by his government. While in Paris the work of Courbet and Le Nain had strong attraction for him, though he clung to subjects that depicted the somber life and harsh soil of his native country.
He had his first one-man show in Paris in 1953 and since then France became his adopted country. Life in Paris was difficult, and like many others, he had to undertake various forms of manual labor to make a living.
Having married Madeleine Bachelet an artist like himself, life was made easier and he was enabled to be more dedicated to his art. Within himself still remained great controversy as to his ability as a painter, perfectionist that he was.
The strong influence of his years in Paris was very apparent when he returned briefly to El Salvador in 1957. He saw his country through different eyes and from then on color and light became more and more part of his work. Canjura’s painting is now a synthesis of the many influences which have deeply marked his character as well as his art. His canvases are both dramatic and wistful; powerfully composed yet detailed with great subtlety; always simplified planes of color which at first suggest abstractions.
The fact that in six years between 1959 and 1965 the City of Paris purchased four of his paintings for its permanent collection is an indication of his standing in the Paris art world and the steady development of his work.
Canjura was a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon de la Jeune Peinture. He exhibited regularly and with unquestioned popularity in the important salon
s of Paris: especially, he was invited every year in Maurice Boitel
's group in the Salon "Comparaisons". His paintings have been purchased for the collections of the French State, the National Museum of El Salvador (later transferred to the Museum of Art of El Salvador MARTE), and the Hamishka Leomanouth Museum at Ein Harod
in Israel. In 1965 he was awarded the coveted “Prune d’Argent” of the Salon Peintres de Provence.
Together with Julia Díaz, Raúl Elas Reyes, Rosa Mena Valenzuela, Canjura is an icon in El Salvador of the greatest art school movement of his generation. He also symbolizes the human capacity for reinventing himself from a humble barefoot young art student to a powerful creator of his own existence in an international environment.
Mr. Wally Findlay, president of the galleries, once, said: “The young artist in a very short time would achieve the stature of such contemporary artists as Bernard Buffet and Nicola Simbari”.
Apopa
Apopa is a municipality in the San Salvador department of El Salvador.Probably the seventh biggest city in El Salvador with a little more than 150,000 people, the city has now collided with Soyapango and San Salvador, making it part of The Great San Salvador Metro- Geography :Hydography: The rivers...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, August 14, 1922 - Morienval
Morienval
Morienval is a village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, September 29, 1970) was a Salvadoran painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and a prominent figure in 20th century modern art in France.
First steps
Noe Canjura was born in 1922, in Apopa a village in the Republic of El SalvadorEl Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in Central America, to a family of landless peasants of humble origin. By the time of his decease he was recognized as one of the leading landscape, still life and figure painters of France.
As a youth Canjura was raised in intimate contact with the struggle of wrestling a livelihood from the infertile soil of his native village.
To pay part of his expenses and to lighten the weight of the sacrifices his father made to keep him in school, Canjura worked in a sawmill and often spent the night there, sleeping on bare boards.
His talent for drawing came to light when he was seventeen years old and, without knowing how or why, his adventure in the art world began. He first studies painting at the Academy of Painting of Valero Lecha in San Salvador (1942–1946).
Beginning in 1942 Canjura took part in all of the group exhibitions throughout El Salvador and several years later was exhibiting in Guatemala.
In 1948 he travelled to Mexico City to continue his studies, there he was strongly influenced by Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
, who with Orozco
José Clemente Orozco
José Clemente Orozco was a Mexican social realist painter, who specialized in bold murals that established the Mexican Mural Renaissance together with murals by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and others...
and Siqueiros
David Alfaro Siqueiros
José David Alfaro Siqueiros was a social realist painter, known for his large murals in fresco that helped establish the Mexican Mural Renaissance, together with works by Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco, and also a member of the Mexican Communist Party who participated in an...
, was at the height of his fame. Gradually Rivera’s influence lessened and Canjura turned to the art of Gauguin, gaining from him the idea of formal order in painting and the use of curves.
The same year had his first exhibition in the United States.
Life in Paris
Canjura’s career changed dramatically in 1949 when he went to France to study at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-ArtsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
for special studies in the technique of fresco painting, on grant issued by his government. While in Paris the work of Courbet and Le Nain had strong attraction for him, though he clung to subjects that depicted the somber life and harsh soil of his native country.
He had his first one-man show in Paris in 1953 and since then France became his adopted country. Life in Paris was difficult, and like many others, he had to undertake various forms of manual labor to make a living.
Having married Madeleine Bachelet an artist like himself, life was made easier and he was enabled to be more dedicated to his art. Within himself still remained great controversy as to his ability as a painter, perfectionist that he was.
The strong influence of his years in Paris was very apparent when he returned briefly to El Salvador in 1957. He saw his country through different eyes and from then on color and light became more and more part of his work. Canjura’s painting is now a synthesis of the many influences which have deeply marked his character as well as his art. His canvases are both dramatic and wistful; powerfully composed yet detailed with great subtlety; always simplified planes of color which at first suggest abstractions.
The fact that in six years between 1959 and 1965 the City of Paris purchased four of his paintings for its permanent collection is an indication of his standing in the Paris art world and the steady development of his work.
Canjura was a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon de la Jeune Peinture. He exhibited regularly and with unquestioned popularity in the important salon
French art salons and academies
From the seventeenth century to the early part of the twentieth century, artistic production in France was controlled by artistic academies which organized official exhibitions called salons...
s of Paris: especially, he was invited every year in Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel
Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel Maurice Boitel (July 31, 1919 – August 11, 2007 in Audresselles (Pas-de-Calais), was a French painter.-Artistic life:Maurice Boitel belonged to the art movement called "La Jeune Peinture" ("Young Picture") of the School of Paris, with painters like Bernard Buffet, Yves...
's group in the Salon "Comparaisons". His paintings have been purchased for the collections of the French State, the National Museum of El Salvador (later transferred to the Museum of Art of El Salvador MARTE), and the Hamishka Leomanouth Museum at Ein Harod
Ein Harod
Ein Harod was a kibbutz in Israel. It was located in northern Israel near Mount Gilboa. It is notable for being built near the battlefield of Ayn Jalut , a battle of huge macro-historical importance where the Mongols were defeated for the first time, in 1260.-History:The kibbutz was founded by...
in Israel. In 1965 he was awarded the coveted “Prune d’Argent” of the Salon Peintres de Provence.
Death and legacy
Noe Canjura died in Morienval, France on September 29, 1970 at the age of 48. He was buried at the church's cemetery in Notre Dame de Morienval, Direct survivors include his daughter, Leticia Canjura and his granddaughter Vilma Borden, both residing in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.Together with Julia Díaz, Raúl Elas Reyes, Rosa Mena Valenzuela, Canjura is an icon in El Salvador of the greatest art school movement of his generation. He also symbolizes the human capacity for reinventing himself from a humble barefoot young art student to a powerful creator of his own existence in an international environment.
Mr. Wally Findlay, president of the galleries, once, said: “The young artist in a very short time would achieve the stature of such contemporary artists as Bernard Buffet and Nicola Simbari”.
External links
- Museum of Art of El Salvador MARTE
- Spanish Version - Version en Español
- French Version - Version française
- German Version - Deutsche Version
- Notre Dame de Morienval
- Noe Canjura - Video