This review was written by the art critic born in Catalonia, Alberto Junyent (1903–1976), about the first exhibition of paintings by Héctor Poleo (1918–1989) at the Galería Drouant de Paris in 1966. It is one of the few documents written in Spanish that report on the important work presented by the artist at that gallery. In fact, it was Poleo’s first exhibition there; later that same year, the artist again exhibited works at the same gallery, in a show that was also reviewed by the critic Junyent. While the Venezuelan painter exhibited his work in Paris on numerous occasions, the shows at the Galería Drouant are considered most important in terms of critical documentation of the artist’s work. The fact that Junyent was in Paris and the quality of his perceptions on this event reinforce the importance of this document. Junyent’s comments reveal the close watch the critic kept on the Poleo’s work in France, which we may deduce from the critic’s statements about other exhibitions in that European country at the time.
[For other texts on Poleo’s work, see the ICAA digital archive: Alberto Junyent’s review, “Aromas de la gracia” (doc. no. 1153851); Juan Liscano’s article, “Pedro León Castro y Héctor Poleo” (doc. no. 850175); Simón Noriega’s text, “Fuentes concretas del surrealismo de Poleo” (doc. no. 1153819); Bélgica Rodríguez’s article in “Hector Poleo, inventor y fabulador de formas” (doc. no. 1153899); Denys Chevalier’s essay, “Poleo: la opción simbolista” (doc. no. 1162167); and two texts by Alfredo Boulton, “Introducción” (doc. no. 1153883) and “El tema de la figura humana en la obra de Héctor Poleo” (doc. no. 1153964)].
