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A Manolo Millares icon reappears after three decades: Geneva auctions a key work of Spanish informalism
One of the most significant pieces in Manolo Millares' career is once again at the center of attention in the international art market. The Piguet auction house in Geneva will put up for sale on June 10th "Cuadro 1" (Painting 1 ), a work created in 1960 that synthesizes the most recognizable artistic language of the Canary Islands artist and which has not appeared publicly at auction for three decades.
From a private Swiss collection, the painting is being offered with an estimate of between 100,000 and 150,000 Swiss francs (approximately €109,000 to €163,000). However, the auction organizers are confident that interest from collectors, museums, and institutions will allow them to significantly exceed these figures.
The significance of Painting 1 lies not only in its monetary value. The work has a distinguished international history, having been included in collections and galleries in various European countries, including Spain, Denmark, and Sweden. Its last appearance on the market was in 1995, when it was sold by Christie's, having previously been sold by Sotheby's in 1988.
Created at a pivotal moment in Millares' career, the piece belongs to the period in which the artist began to consolidate his prestige beyond Spain's borders. During those years, his work was acquired by leading institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and the Guggenheim Museum, contributing to the international projection of postwar Spanish art.
Created with the characteristic torn, sewn, and layered burlap that defined her most celebrated work, the piece embodies a visual reflection on wounds, memory, and reconstruction after war. Its humble materials and tattered appearance become a powerful metaphor for the historical and human scars that marked an entire generation.
Millares was one of the key figures of Spanish informalism and a founding member of the El Paso group, a collective that revolutionized the artistic scene of mid-20th century Spain by challenging traditional academic models and opening new avenues of aesthetic experimentation.
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