Sketch for The picarones

Camilo Blas was one of the most foremost members of the Indigenist movement that emerged during the 1920’s as a response to demands for a national art based on the representation of local subjects. Although the greater part of the group’s works revolved around figures and scenes from the highlands, a space was also given to the representation of traditional coastal traditions. Unlike his companions, who only rarely represented such scenes, Blas demonstrated a particular interest in the representation of popular contemporary Creole subjects. For instance, this pastel is the final sketch of The picarones, a canvas representing a Lima confectionery street stall. This is one of the most successful compositions of Lima life by the artist, not only for its strength but also for its intentional chromatic austerity that evokes the aspect of a mural painting.