Preview
Origin
Costa Rican-Mexican
Artist's Lifespan
1912-1998
Artist Biographical Information
Francisco Zúñiga (1912-1998) began creating art by following in the footsteps of his father, Manuel María Zúñiga. His father was a well-known Costa Rican sculptor in the early 20th century, mainly recognized for his religious sculptures. Francisco Zúñiga began carving wood and drawing around the age of thirteen, using family members as models. He worked in his father’s workshop. Some of his artistic influences include the Impressionist, Expressionist, Mural, and Cubist movements, as well as Indigenous art. In the 1930s, he moved to Mexico and continued working as a sculptor. He focused on studying Ancient American art, especially in Mexico.
Accession #
AG.2018.11
Date of Creation
1982
Date of Acquisition
2018
Description
This lithograph shows a woman with a blue bow dressed in a white robe, seated, holding lemons.
Medium
lithograph on paper, 68/135
Dimensions
34" x 23"
Location
45/2416
Signature
LR
Collection
Holland Collection
Framing
yes
Exhibit Label
In Zúñiga’s Woman with Lemons, a woman sits on a wooden chair holding two lemons and an orange. Around the time this lithograph was created, Zúñiga developed an interest in mural and Ancient American art. The woman’s figure displays fullness and curves. Her distant gaze indicates concentration, with her downcast eyes suggesting fatigue. She sits at an angle, with her weight on her bent leg—the wooden chair pointing toward nature and folklore. The white robe and citrus fruit may symbolize the Latin American trade in the 20th century, as lemons and oranges were key exports. The color white was a popular color for people working in the fields. Her blue bow roots her in Mexican culture, as seen in Talavera pottery and “Maya blue.” Maya blue is a pigment created by Ancient American civilizations known for its vibrancy.
References:
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Reich, Sheldon, and Francisco Zúñiga. Francisco Zúñiga, Sculptor : Conversations and Interpretations. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1980.
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Zúñiga, Francisco. 1975. “Francisco Zúñiga: Autobiographical Notes.” Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas 9 (15): 61–63. doi:10.1080/08905767508593868.
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Rollins Museum of Art. "The Rollins Museum of Art celebrates sculptor and teacher Francisco Zúñiga." Sep 22, 2023. Video, https://youtu.be/1RFKlMTZOsY?si=dBC6Hy2g_pCHg8Bx