Paisaje en rojo II (Landscape in Red II)

Gerzso began his career as an artist emulating the style of European Surrealists like Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, and Yves Tanguy. However, after a trip to southeastern Mexico, a region known for its rich indigenous history and culture, Gerszo became inspired by pre-Columbian art, which soon had an irreversible impact on his artistic style. Gerzso’s aesthetic shifted from Surrealism to geometric abstraction that was heavily influenced by pre-Hispanic visual icons. The artist explains, “As a result of this [trip], I first painted a piece that was merely intuitive. I still work that way. To begin a painting, I initially draw many lines on the canvas… Then I see it the next day and choose what stays and what goes, until I convince myself that the piece is ready, alive. I’ve been working the same way since 1946.”