The new collection of Antonio de Guezala at the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

The Bilbao Fine Arts Museum is consolidating itself as a benchmark in the conservation and study of the work of Antonio de Guezala (Bilbao, 1889-1956), thanks to the recent addition of a valuable artistic and documentary collection to its collection This addition, made possible through acquisitions, donations and deposits, includes a wide range of works and materials that reflect the career of one of the most versatile artists in the Basque Country. From September 27, visitors can already enjoy this legacy at the museum, which consolidates Guezala's figure as one of the most influential of her time.

The fund, coming from the artist's heirs, includes 7,400 objects ranging from designs for posters, bookplates, photographs and philately, to furniture designed by Guezala. This donation is complemented by the acquisition of 42 paintings and works on paper by the same artist, as well as a watercolor by Sonia Delaunay. The Museum has acquired these pieces thanks to the collaboration of the BBK Banking Foundation and the Friends of the Museum. In addition, a group of works by contemporaries such as the draftsman Luis Bagaría and the painter Anselmo Guinea, Guezala's father-in-law, have been deposited, completing a fund that offers a global view of the art of this period.

This rich collection is on display in rooms 8 to 10 within the exhibition ' Entreacto', an exhibition that explores the socio-cultural context of Bilbao between 1924 and 1945, a key period for Guezala's artistic evolution. The painter was one of the founders of the Association of Basque Artists in 1911, and later held prominent positions on the boards of the Fine Arts and Modern Art Museums of the city. His work stands out for his ability to absorb contemporary European influences, from modernism to the avant-garde, integrating these currents in his paintings, caricatures and graphic designs.

Caricatura de Pedro Mourlane Michelena, 1916

Pilar Mur, historian and curator of the great exhibition on Guezala that the museum organized between 1991 and 1992, maintains that the artist introduced a "contemporary awareness" to Basque art. According to Mur, his work reflects the adoption of a modern lifestyle that breaks with traditionalism, celebrating the novelties of urban society. This vision is embodied in works such as 'Choque de tranvías en El Arenal', a piece recently acquired by the museum, which exemplifies Guezala's interest in the contemporary world and his desire to shape modern urban life.

Guezala was not only a painter, but also an illustrator, graphic designer, caricaturist and creator of ex libris, working in a wide range of techniques. This multifaceted production, which can now be seen in the museum, also includes his caricatures of the members of the Association of Basque Artists and other works that show his constant search for new expressive forms. His work was not limited to depicting native landscapes, but explored urban and cosmopolitan themes, as reflected in the works of his more mature period.

With this acquisition and donation, the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao enriches its artistic heritage and brings to the public a fundamental figure of Spanish art of the 20th century. Guezala, who always remained on the sidelines of the art market, finds in this exhibition a space to be rediscovered.

Miguel Zugaza, Juan Mari Aburto, Oier Aranzabal Guezala, Miriam Alzuri i Nora Sarasola a l'acte d'inauguració del nou fons.