Ginés Parra

1896 - 1960

Quick Facts

  • Born: 1896, Almería, Spain
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Lifespan: 64 years
  • Also known as:
    • José Antonio Ramón Parra Menchón
    • José Parra Menchón
    • Juan Antonio Parra
    • José Antonio Parra Menchón
    • Gienes Parra

The Life and Journey of Ginés Parra

Born in Almería, Spain, Ginés Parra lived a life marked by significant movement across continents. After spending his childhood in Algeria, he traveled to Argentina and worked in the copper mines of Arizona before arriving in New York. In 1919, he returned to Spain briefly before settling in Paris in 1920. To support his artistic pursuits, he worked various modest jobs in Paris, including serving as a shopkeeper and washing cars in a garage. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Lucien Simon and Louis Roger. During the Spanish Civil War, he was in Madrid and was later imprisoned in Galicia for several years before returning to Paris. His later years included time in Alba-la-Romaine, France, and various travels through South America, including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Lima, and Mexico.

Artistic Style and Legacy

The work of Ginés Parra is characterized by an economy of means, often utilizing only two or three intense colors. His compositions, which include landscapes, faces, and still lifes, are built with powerful, "cyclopean" structures and often feature thick black graphic lines that reduce vision to the essential. His use of impasto has led to comparisons with the works of Rouault and art brut. His paintings have been exhibited in numerous locations, including Prague, London, Brussels, Stockholm, Havana, and Guatemala. His pieces are held in various public collections, such as the Museo de Bellas Artes in Bilbao and the Musée national Reine-Sophie in Madrid.

Questions & Answers

In which historical period did Ginés Parra work?

Ginés Parra worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

Is there a 3D virtual tour of Ginés Parra's works?

A virtual visit is possible: the 3D Museum page of Ginés Parra presents the artist's works in a three-dimensional gallery.

Where is Ginés Parra from?

Ginés Parra was born in Spain.

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which city was Ginés Parra born?
Question 2:
Which famous artist was a friend of Parra and helped him during his illness?
Question 3:
In which country did Parra spend part of his childhood and adolescence working in mines?
Question 4:
Which art movement is Parra associated with during his time in Paris?
Question 5:
In which French department did Parra help restore an old house in 1949?