"Luis E. Pombo," Guillermo Laborde, c. 1928.

Laborde (1886-1940) was an Uruguayan Modernist painter who was a founder of Planismo, a style of painting popular in Uruguay and other parts of Latin America in the 20s and 30s.

Planismo is a style that emphasizes sharp angular lines, little shading, brilliant colors, and a focus on everyday life and the Uruguayan landscape. Here, in what is regarded as one of the best-ever examples of planismo, he paints a portrait of his friend, the art critic and author Luis Eduardo Pombo (1900-1976).

Planismo wasn't widely accepted at first, but became eagerly accepted as a uniquely Uruguayan style and a source of national identity. I've seen a lot of this in my travels through the art world. Many times artists have developed a style, or subject matter, that they want to make a point of national pride, to make something not only that they can take pride in, but also something uniquely of their country. I sometimes think of this as ripples of the Romantic movement, which could be very nationalistic.

Happy Portrait Monday!

From the Museo Nacional de Artes Visuales, Montevideo.

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