Fernando Botero «Botero’s Womans» 2018
Tecnique: Includes Art Book, Study Book, and Sculpture Case.
Size: 24 in x 18 in x 4 in / 60,96 cm x 45,72 cm x 10,16 cm.
Signature: Yes, lower right.
Edition: of 2998.
The artist’s book “The Women of Botero” traces Botero’s artistic journey, with a particular focus on one of his most recurrent themes: the female figure. This edition is composed of three pieces: the Art Book, the Study Book, and a Sculpture Case that houses both volumes. The Sculpture Case has been specifically created to contain this unique edition. It is a handcrafted piece, making it a work of art in its own right. On its front, it features a detail from the painting Cabeza, created by the artist in 2006, with a slight relief that pays tribute to the characteristic volume found in Fernando Botero’s paintings and sculptures.
The Art Book, the centerpiece of the edition, opens with a foreword by Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, written especially for this edition. It contains 45 plates featuring drawings personally selected by Fernando Botero. Two types of paper were used for printing: watercolor paper and handmade paper that mimics amate paper, which the artist used in some of his works.
The drawings depict numerous female figures, all suggestive, sensual, and deeply expressive. They are accompanied by excerpts from short stories published by Botero in the 1980s, offering an introduction to the artist’s universe.
The Study Book, in a bilingual Spanish-English edition, delves deeper into Botero’s work, showcasing the reach of a truly universal painter. Art history professor Lourdes Cirlot presents some of the most distinctive aspects of the master’s work, including a detailed study of the role of women in Botero’s art, the importance of drawing in his creative process, and his artistic influences. It also includes a chapter dedicated to analyzing the drawings in The Women of Botero, offering an in-depth study of their composition, technique, themes, and symbolism. These specially written texts are accompanied by an exclusive interview with Fernando Botero.