Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Alejandro Obregón, The Wave. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Alejandro Obregón originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/alejandro-obregon/
Artist’s dates: 1920 – 1992
Original size: 149 x 147 cm

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Alejandro Obregón died in 1992; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2062. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

The Wave — Alejandro Obregón

How big is it?

The original measures 149 × 147 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990

09
1019
2029
3039
4049
5059
6069
7072

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 72 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Alejandro Obregón (1920–1992) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Millenary Fin, 1962 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-millenary-fin-D4R825-en/
Simbología de Barranquilla, 1956 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-simbologia-de-barranquilla-D4C42N-en/
Ángel Ana Isabel, 1950 originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-angel-ana-isabel-D4C42D-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Putty #d1d8d7

Catalogued palette

#D1D8D7
#2F383F
#D5B59E
#697986

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Putty
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Discordant Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Brilliant How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Alejandro Obregón over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 50.0%
2 Colombia 50.0%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 4 most looked-at works by Alejandro Obregón

1 Simbología de Barranquilla, 1956 33.3%
2 Vientos 33.3%
3 The Village 33.3%
— The Wave this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 6 works by this artist, of which 3 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Alejandro Obregón

Born in Barcelona, Spain

Alejandro Obregón: A Life in Art

Born: Barcelona, Spain (4 June 1920)

Died: Cartagena, Colombia (11 April 1992)

Nationality: Colombian-Spanish

Early Life and Artistic Development

Obregón was born in Barcelona, Spain, to a Colombian father and a Catalan mother. His family relocated to Barranquilla, Colombia when he was three years old.

He initially studied architecture at the National University of Colombia but soon transitioned to painting, recognizing his true passion.

Early influences included European modernism and surrealism, but he developed a unique style rooted in Colombian culture and landscapes.

His artistic journey involved experimentation and analysis of artists like Francisco de Goya, Diego Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Picasso.

A significant influence was Cézanne, shaping his approach to form and color.

Key Themes and Artistic Style

Style: Obregón's style is characterized by magical expressionism, blending modernist influences with vibrant Colombian imagery.

Color & Texture: He employed a thick, free brushstroke, strong colors, and vigorous strokes in his paintings.

Recurring Motifs: His work frequently featured landscapes, animals (particularly the condor), indigenous motifs, guitars, bulls, and elements of everyday Colombian life.

Pictographic System: During the 1960s, he developed a unique pictographic system using formal and chromatic symbols.

Symbolism: The condor, featured prominently in his work, symbolized strength, liberty, vitality, and represented Colombia's national identity.

Major Achievements and Recognition

Early Exhibitions: Presented his first solo exhibition in Colombia in 1945 and participated in the Salón de Artistas Colombianos (1944 & 1945).

International Acclaim: Exhibited throughout France, Germany, and Switzerland. His work "Souvenir of Venice" (1954) was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art New York in 1955.

São Paulo Biennial: Represented Colombia at the Ninth São Paulo Biennial (1960s), where he received the Francisco Matarazzo Sobrinho Grand Prize for Latin America.

National Recognition: Won first prize in Painting at the National Salon in 1959, with his paintings "Violencia" and "Icaro y las avispas."

Legacy and Historical Significance

Obregón is considered a pioneer of modern art in Colombia and a significant figure in Latin American art.

His exploration of Colombian culture, landscapes, and wildlife has had a lasting impact on the country's artistic scene.

He inspired subsequent generations of artists with his unique blend of modernist influences and vibrant Colombian identity.

Obregón’s work continues to be celebrated for its evocative imagery, masterful use of color, and profound connection to Colombia's cultural heritage.

Where to read more

The artist Alejandro Obregón originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/alejandro-obregon/
Similar works More works to compare originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for The Wave

originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Obregón, Alejandro. The Wave. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/
APA: Obregón, Alejandro (n.d.). The Wave [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/
Chicago: Alejandro Obregón. The Wave. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/
Harvard: Obregón, Alejandro (n.d.) The Wave. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/alejandro-obregon-the-wave-ARCA9M-en/

The Wave — Alejandro Obregón

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Look back at Millenary Fin (1962), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

Where can I download "The Wave" by Alejandro Obregón?

A download is available for "The Wave": the artwork's Download page offers a high-resolution digital image download.

What other names is Alejandro Obregón known by?

Alejandro Obregón appears under the alternate names Alejandro Obregon, Alejandro Jesús Obregón Rosės.

Where can I find statistics about "The Wave" by Alejandro Obregón?

A Stats page exists for "The Wave". It charts the monthly visits of the artwork and of the artist's other works, with country and language breakdowns.