Noe Canjura

Art Brokerage: Noe Canjura French/Salvadoran Artist: b. 1922-1970. Noe Canjura (Apopa, El Salvador, August 14, 1922 - Morienval, France, September 29, 1970) was a Salvadoran painter and a prominent figure in 20th century modern art in France. He was born in 1922, in Apopa a village in the Republic of El Salvador in Central America, to a family of landless peasants of humble origin. By the time of his death, he was recognized as one of the leading landscape, still life and figure painters of France. His talent for drawing came to light when he was seventeen years old and, without knowing how or why, his adventure in the art world began. He first studied painting at the Academy of Painting of Valero Lecha in San Salvador (1942-1946). Beginning in 1942 Canjura took part in all of the group exhibitions throughout El Salvador and several years later was exhibiting in Guatemala. In 1948 he traveled to Mexico City to continue his studies; there he was strongly influenced by Diego Rivera, who with Orozco and Siqueiros, was at the height of his fame. Gradually Rivera's influence lessened and Canjura turned to the art of Gauguin, gaining from him the idea of formal order in painting and the use of curves. The strong influence of his years in Paris was very apparent when he returned briefly to El Salvador in 1957. He saw his country through different eyes and from then on color and light became more and more part of his work. Canjura's painting is now a synthesis of the many influences which have deeply marked his character as well as his art. His canvases are both dramatic and wistful; powerfully composed yet detailed with great subtlety; always simplified planes of color which at first suggest abstractions. Listings wanted.