Rufino Tamayo is known for his intense and beautiful color sense. Tamayo believed in the universality of painting, which put him in direct opposition to the other well-known group of Mexican artists of the time. His pieces reflected native influences and the social and political concerns of the era. The color of Tamayo’s paintings is influenced by the people and art of his native land—earth-reds, dull greens, purple, and chrome yellow predominate.

His subject matter is drawn from Mexican and pre-Columbian influences as well, and the influence of European artists and movements are also evident in his work. Women of Tehuantepec is no exception—the women and setting are clearly Mexican and are influenced by his childhood experiences at his aunt’s fruit stand. However, the fruit, space, and figures also contain clear references to modern European paintings by his contemporaries.

Tamayo was also one of the first artists who created a new type of printed artwork called “mixografía”. Mixografía consisted of artwork printed on paper, but with depth and texture.

See Rufino Tamayo Art at Gallery Art, Miami