Having inspired Juan Gris and Pablo Picasso; he was a great promoter in our country of the aesthetic movements and trends that spread throughout the European continent in the early decades of the twentieth century; designer, illustrator, painter, decorator... a Renaissance man in the age of the automobile. Eulogio Varela was undoubtedly a great reference of Madrid's modernism in its most international aspect. A genius from the period between wars who counted a large number of followers outside our borders, now relegated to a corner of our memory.
Eulogio Varela (1868, El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz - 1955, Cercedilla, Madrid) best exemplifies the existence of Madrid's Modernism through his drawings, always from an experimental and cosmopolitan point of view. His designs are related to the Arts & Crafts Movement by William Morris and the works of John Ruskin and Walter Crane and even to the German experiences such as Darmstadt, in this utopian attempt to unite art, craft and design.
Eulogio Varela, dibujando al aire libre en sus últimos años en Cercedilla, ca. 1950. Reproducción fotográfica. Archivo ABC. Señala encima de la imagen para verla más grande.
He was a versatile artist who stood out not only for his paintings, but was also an accomplished illustrator and magnificent graphic and furniture designer, not to forget his pedagogical and theoretical work that helped enhance his name.
Among the exhibition's topics we can highlight women and her image to represent the essence of modernity, enjoying her new social role or in the form of posters, as a stunt of a new society based on the commercial.
Eulogio Varela. Modernismo y modernidad.
Dates.- From the 30th of January to the 22nd of June 2014.
Venue.- Museo ABC, Amaniel, 23-31. 28015 Madrid.
Opening Hours.- Tue - Sat, 11- 20 h, Sun, 10 - 14 h.
