This commanding masterwork sets an elite high-end standard, establishing itself as a premier example of an original graphite drawing that masterfully channels the timeless scale and heavy sculptural presence of mid-century figurative modernism. Executed in 1964 by the globally renowned Costa Rican-Mexican master Francisco Zúñiga, the vertical composition isolates a fluid, analytical study of the female anatomy. The layout frames an unadorned, standing nude figure with her arms raised above her head, locking her profile into a state of absolute psychological sovereignty and quiet material truth. Rejecting flat or commercial lines, Zúñiga handles the graphite with extreme delicacy, layering soft smudges, rich charcoal-toned shadows, and rhythmic contours that effectively model her curves into an undulating, multi-dimensional volume.
Zúñiga, primarily known as a sculptor, produced a large number of drawings, often using Conté crayon, charcoal, and pastel, as preliminary studies for his sculptures or as independent works.
Incorporate a magnificent statement of classic drawing, formal strength, and historical sophistication into your space; acquire this exclusive original pencil drawing by Francisco Zúñiga on our website.
Graphite Drawing - Mujer Desnuda, 1964. By Francisco Zúñiga
Francisco Zúñiga
Mujer Desnuda, 1964
Graphite on paper
Dimensions:
Image size: 25 H x 20 W in.
Frame size: 35 H x 40 W x 2 D in.
Signed front by the artist
Francisco Zúñiga produced both two- and three-dimensional works in a uniquely regionalized style, combining his classical training with Aztec forms. Though he made some abstract works, Zúñiga was best known for his nude figural works; his favorite subjects were female peasants native to Central America, whose full figures and otherwise “non-ideal” body types he depicted honestly. Zúñiga constantly expanded his practice to include work in new mediums. He made a majority of his sculptures in bronze, but also came to use alabaster, modeling clay, plaster, and marble. At the age of 60, he made his first lithograph. Zúñiga studied under sculptor Oliverio Martinez and painter Manuel Rodriguez Lozano at the Escuela de Talla Directa, though his first instructor was his father, sculptor Manuel Maria Zúñiga.
