La Campesina (The Peasant Woman)

This is a significant color lithograph on paper by the renowned Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, titled 'La Campesina' and created in 1969. The work measures 76 x 57 cm and depicts a female figurative subject standing centrally, holding a staff. The figure is rendered in Tamayo's signature style, which blends international Modernism with Pre-Columbian Mexican aesthetics. The color palette is earthy and atmospheric, dominated by ochres, terracotta oranges, and muted grays, creating a rich, textured background that suggests both geological deep-time and rustic village life. The woman wears a white sleeveless dress and a wide-brimmed conical hat, her face simplified into geometric lines and circular eyes characteristic of Tamayo's interest in indigenous masks. Notable features include the visible plate edges and the sophisticated layering of inks to create a 'mottled' effect. The bottom left corner bears the edition number 'VII/XXV' in pencil, indicating this is a limited edition proof, while the bottom right contains the artist's signature. The condition appears stable with minor tonal shifts in the paper consistent with a 50-year-old print; however, some foxing or surface texture variation is visible in the upper registers of the background. The craftsmanship is of high quality, demonstrating the complex lithographic techniques for which the artist became world-famous during his mid-career period.

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