Fernando Botero – Still life with violin

Fernando Botero (1932–2023), a renowned Latin American figurative artist, is celebrated for his unique visual language. Born in Medellín, Colombia, in 1932, Botero’s works, characterized by expanded forms and monumental volumes, reinterpret European pictorial tradition and everyday subjects with irony and poetry. His monumental bronze sculptures have made his style unmistakable, and his works are held in major international institutions and public spaces worldwide.

This work on paper depicts a still life with a violin, a recurring theme in Botero’s oeuvre. The violin, a symbol of classical tradition, becomes an emblem of harmony and theatricality through the artist’s signature style. The mixed-media technique adds a sense of rich materiality, enhancing the color contrasts and volumetric quality that make Botero’s hand immediately recognizable.