Jaime Colson

Jaime Colson
Born13 January 1901
Puerto Plata Province, Dominican Republic
Died20 November 1975 (age 74)
Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
NationalityDominican
Known forPainting, Art education, Poetry, Playwrighting
MovementModernism, Cubism, Surrealism, Neohumanism
Spouse
​
(m. 1945⁠–⁠1975)​
Parents
  • Antonio González (father)
  • Juana Maria Colson Tradwell (mother)
RelativesJayme Colson (uncle)

Jaime Antonio Gumercindo González Colson (13 January 1901 – 20 November 1975) was a Dominican modernist painter, writer, and playwright born in Tubagua, Puerto Plata in 1901.[1] He is remembered as one of the most important Dominican artists of the 20th century, and as one of the leading figures of the modernist movement in 20th century Dominican art, along with Yoryi Morel, Dario Suro, and Celeste Woss y Gil.[2]

His travels to Spain and France in the early 20th century led to his experimenting with Cubism, Surrealism and other avant-garde styles.[3] He struck up friendships with artists like Maruja Mallo, Rafael Barradas and Salvador Dalí in Spain, and in Paris, came to know Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, masters of the cubist school that influenced his style.[3] In 1934, he decided to leave Europe for Mexico to teach art, where he befriended artists like José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera.[4]

After leaving Mexico in 1938, Colson became professor at the art academy in Havana, Cuba to teach his "cubismo neo-humanista".[5] The Cuban artist Mario Carreño was one of his pupils.[6]

In May 1938, Colson held an art exhibition for the first time in his country, in Santo Domingo, at that time, Ciudad Trujillo.[7] Years later, dictator Rafael Trujillo would go on to appoint him Director of the School of Fine Arts in 1950. Colson would go on to resign less than two years later as a result of the repressive regime.[7]

Colson's art has mostly been described as Cubist, Surrealist, and Neohumanist. He is best known for his development of Neohumanismo (or Neohumanism) and Caribbean cubism or Afro-cubism.[8] His most notable works include Merengue (1938), and his series Figuras Metafisicas (1930). Colson also wrote poetry and theatrical works.

Colson was a devoted Catholic his entire life and married his companion, Toyo Kurimoto, of Japan, in a Catholic ceremony. He died of throat cancer in Santo Domingo on November 20, 1975. Many of his works are displayed in the Museo Bellapart in Santo Domingo.[9]

  1. ^ Colson, Jaime, Chicuri A. Mena, María Ugarte, Marianne . Tolentino, and Ricardo R. Jarne. Colson Errante: [retrospectiva Del Pintor Dominicano Jaime Colson (1901-1975), 2008. Print. pg 21
  2. ^ Danilo de los Santos. Memoria de la Pintura Dominicana. (Colección Centenario Grupo León Jimenes) 8v: vol 2. Grupo León Jimenes. Santo Domingo, 2003. pg 243
  3. ^ a b Danilo de los Santos. Memoria de la Pintura Dominicana. (Colección Centenario Grupo León Jimenes) 8v: vol 2. Grupo León Jimenes. Santo Domingo, 2003. pg 300
  4. ^ Danilo de los Santos. Memoria de la Pintura Dominicana. (Colección Centenario Grupo León Jimenes) 8v: vol 2. Grupo León Jimenes. Santo Domingo, 2003. pg 309
  5. ^ ^Ibid. pg 311
  6. ^ Colson, Jaime, Chicuri A. Mena, María Ugarte, Marianne . Tolentino, and Ricardo R. Jarne. Colson Errante: [retrospectiva Del Pintor Dominicano Jaime Colson (1901-1975), 2008. Print. pg 50
  7. ^ a b ^Ibid. pg 52
  8. ^ Colson, Jaime, Chicuri A. Mena, María Ugarte, Marianne . Tolentino, and Ricardo R. Jarne. Colson Errante: [retrospectiva Del Pintor Dominicano Jaime Colson (1901-1975), 2008. Print. pg 95
  9. ^ Colson, Jaime, Chicuri A. Mena, María Ugarte, Marianne . Tolentino, and Ricardo R. Jarne. Colson Errante: [retrospectiva Del Pintor Dominicano Jaime Colson (1901-1975), 2008. Print. pg 19