This collection represents the work of two groups of indigenous artists of the Guatemalan highlands. They come from two distinct Mayan language and cultural groups - the Kaqchikel artists of San Juan Comalapa, Chimaltenango, and the Tzutujil artists who live mostly in three towns on the south shore of Lake Atitlan. The contemporary “naif” painting movement of both groups dates to the early twentieth century, but only received wider notice in the late 40’s, early 50’s.
In the town of Comalapa, the key figure was Andres Curruchich Cumez, born in 1891. He worked in farming and odd jobs through the 1920’s, but at about that time he learned the rudiments of painting by restoring religious images for a Mexican priest named Fidencio Flores. Working on his own he painted not just religious subjects but scenes of the activities and traditions of his community. He exhibited his work at fairs as early as the 1930’s but was “discovered” by patrons in Guatemala city in the 40's and 50's. By the 1960s', Curruchich had exhibited his work in the US and beyond. In 1960 he was awarded the order of the Quetzal by the Guatemalan government. He died in 1969. Other neighbors and family members followed him in painting. By the 1970's Comalapa was dubbed, somewhat aspirationally, the “Florence” of North America. The movement in Comalapa has endured, through the traumas of the 1976 earthquake and the long and brutal civil war (from 1960 to 1996). Other notable Comalapa artists include Oscar Peren (b.1950) and Curruchich’s granddaughters Rosa Elena (1958-2005) and Maria Elena. Edgar Peren (b.1971), grandson of Oscar, is among the current generation of Comalapa artists.
In the Tzutujil region of Lake Atitlan the notable early artists were Rafael Gonzalez y Gonzalez (1907-1996) of San Pedro la Laguna and Juan Sisay (1921-1989) of Santiago Atitlan. Both Gonzalez y Gonzalez and Sisay were first exposed to a wider audience with shows in Guatemala City in the 1950’s. Here too, their relative success inspired many students, relatives and imitators. Notable among the next generation of artists are Mario Gonzalez Chavajay, Ottoniel Chavajay (b.1976) and Mariano Gonzalez Chavajay (b.1956) of San Pedro La Laguna and Antonio Coche Mendoza (b.1968) and his wife Angelina Quic Ixtamer (b.1972) of San Juan la Laguna. Lake Atitlan has become a major tourist destination, particularly since the civil war ended. This has brought the artists of that region far more exposure (and perhaps more commercialization) than the Comalapa artists.
Offering a broader view of the country, the densely worked wood engravings of Guatemala City printmaker Guillermo Maldonado (b.1961) depict both the volcanoes of the highlands and a riverine world of caimans, jaguars, tortugas and jungle.
