Montoya — Grotesque figure — Charcoal drawing on paper

An expressive original drawing signed “Montoya”, executed in charcoal on paper and depicting a grotesque hybrid figure, part human and part animal.

The work concentrates its force in the figure’s face, hands and hunched posture, constructed through quick, nervous, highly gestural strokes. Distorted anatomy, prominent teeth and staring eyes reinforce its unsettling, satirical character.

The composition belongs to an expressionist, grotesque approach to figuration, close to the worlds of caricature, masks and fantastic bestiaries.

The almost exclusive use of black allows the artist to work with lines, patches and direct shading, leaving broad areas of paper untouched and emphasising the drawing’s spontaneity.

Technical details

• Artist: Montoya
• Title: Grotesque figure
• Technique: Charcoal on paper
• Dimensions: 45 × 33 cm
• Signature: Signed “MONTOYA” in the lower right corner
• Period: Second half of the 20th century
• Style: Figurative expressionism / Grotesque
• Subject: Fantastic figure / Bestiary
• Provenance: Private collection
• Condition: Good overall condition, with minor signs consistent with the paper’s age

The Taller Note

A work of considerable graphic force, in which exaggerated features and direct strokes give the figure an almost theatrical presence, midway between a caricature and a fantastic creature.