Norah...

8:15 a.m.

27/02/20 - Next week will be the last of the exhibition dedicated to illustrator, artist and art critic Norah Borges (Bs As, 1901-1998) at the Bellas Artes Museum in Buenos Aires. Sister to writer Jorge Luis Borges, Norah relegated her writing career to pour herself into painting, although she participated in certain newspapers and cultural magazines. 
Herbario, by Norah Borges (1928)
Technique: oil / Measures: 63 x 63 cm
Encuentro en el paraíso, by Norah Borges (1980)
Technique: oil / Measures: 72 x 85 cm
In her paintings we see Norah's very peculiar and personal way of expression, depicting her subjects with juvenile features and no particular expressions. She remained true to her usual palette: pinks, yellows, greens, nothing too shiny. However, although she was no part of any artistic movement, we can see in her drawings the influences of the vanguards of the 20th Century, like ultraism, cubism and even de Chirico's metaphysics. But it is magic realism what better explains her works, if we must follow this obsession of ours to fit everyone into a mold. 
Montevideo, by Norah Borges (1929)
Technique: oil on wood / Measures: 46 x 46,5 cm
Los enamorados, by Norah Borges (1966)
Technique: oil / Measures: 93 x 64 cm
Norah depicted her life in her paintings: her house on Quintana street, her weekend home in Adrogué and her husband. She portrayed herself in daily situations, resting or reading. Most of the pieces on display belong to private collectors, specially of friends and family members. The Bellas Artes museum has very little since Norah was never too interested in being part of the art market. 
Vieja quinta, by Norah Borges (1966)
Technique: témpera on paper / Measures: 52 x 69 cm
Which is our conclusion? The revelation that she was unique and quite different. That she remained true to her way of painting and to her big-eyed characters, with broad foreheads, flat hairs and small mouths. In the words of Julio Payró in 1944, they look like Egyptian portraits.

You Might Also Like

0 comentarios

Contents

Liliana Wrobel


Production & Translation

Carla Mitrani

Contact

ObrasMNBA@gmail.com