Elvira Gascón Vera (May 17, 1911 – February 10, 2000) was a Spanish painter, drafter, and engraver who participated in the Mexican muralism movement and is known for synthesizing Spanish and Mexican styles. Gascón also illustrated hundreds of books and periodicals, originating the drawing style known as ''helenismo picassiano''.

Life

Gascón was born in Almenar, Soria. She was accepted into Madrid's Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in 1929 and studied there till 1935. She taught in Madrid at the Instituto Lope de Vega and the ''Escuela de Artes y Oficios''. When the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

broke out in 1936, Gascón joined the Junta de Incautación del Tesoro Artístico Nacional, which seized national artistic treasures to keep them safe during the chaotic years of war and destruction. While working for the institute, she met her future husband, (1891–1966), the institute's president and brother of the architect (1888–1931). Gascón and Fernández emigrated to exile in Mexico in 1939, following the defeat of the Spanish Republicans by the right-wing Nationalist rebels. In Mexico, Gascón became a prolific and widely known artist, with Mexican artists and intellectuals like Rubén Bonifaz Nuño praising her artistic technique and simplicity of style.Ascensión H. de León-Portilla, ''España desde México: Vida y tesimonio de transterrados'' (Madrid: Algaba Ediciones, 1978), chapter 4''
(Spanish). Gascón had two daughters, Guadelupe and Elvira. Elvira, b. 1944 in Mexico City, is a known sculptor. Later in life, Gascón suffered from

Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a neurodegenerative disease primarily of the central nervous system, affecting both motor system, motor and non-motor systems. Symptoms typically develop gradually and non-motor issues become ...

. She died in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

in 2000 at the age of 88."Enriquecen el acervo de Elvira Gascón en el Colmex"
(Spanish), ''La Jornada''.

Career

In Mexico, Gascón painted several murals in churches, and participated in 28 single and 45 group exhibitions. She also illustrated magazines and about 150 books.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gascon Vera, Elvira 1911 births 2000 deaths 20th-century Spanish engravers 20th-century Spanish painters 20th-century Spanish illustrators Spanish women illustrators Spanish muralists Spanish women muralists Spanish women engravers Spanish emigrants to Mexico 20th-century Spanish women painters Spanish magazine illustrators