Casita al Mar

Casita del mar is emblematic of Emilio Sánchez’s architecturally-minded style, which is defined by ultra-reduced forms that focus on the linear quality of the composition and the relationship between the work’s intersecting verticals and horizontals. Sánchez, a Cuban-American artist, received his artistic training in New York City’s Art Students League. He soon became fascinated by the manipulation of color and shadow as a technique through which to create strikingly geometric, almost abstract compositions. After leaving Cuba in 1944, Sánchez remained in New York until his death in 1999. However, the influence of his homeland nevertheless steadily persisted as an inspiration to the artist. As art historian Carol Damian argues, his “casitas” are formed from memory of Cuban architecture. In fact, “each series of houses reinforced the nostalgia as much as it clarified his aesthetic intent.”