Bogotaso and "Critical Art" 1948 in Colombia: paintings by Enrique Grau and Alejandro Obregona

Abstract

The subject of the study is the reaction of Colombian artists to the events that took place in the country on April 9, 1948 and were one of the most important milestones in the modern history of Colombia and the history of art of this country. On that day, peaceful Bogota was involved in an unprecedented civil uprising in Colombian history, the consequences of which affected all spheres of life of Colombian society. For art, this uprising also became a turning point in its development. Changes have taken place in all areas of fine art: there has been a pronounced social problem, there has been a break with academism and, of course, since the events of Bogotaso, the critical position of artists in relation to the phenomena of socio-political life in Colombia has received its vivid expression. This paper analyzes the paintings of key artists of the history of Colombian art: Enrique Grau and Alejandro Obregona. The works in question reflect the events of the fateful day for the country on April 9, 1948, interpreting the facts of this tragedy in their own way, and affirm the importance of the artist's socially critical position in society. Methodologically, this is a work with a comprehensive approach, including cultural-historical, iconographic, artistic-stylistic analysis of works. The novelty of the research lies in the study of the reaction of artists to political and social repression in Colombia, as well as in the study of the dizzying political and social changes that occurred after the events of Bogotaso in 1948 and influenced the development of the "critical art" of Colombia up to the present day.