This significant mid-century work, dated 1959, represents a pivotal moment in the career of Ricardo Martínez. Created during the year of his acclaimed solo exhibition at The Contemporaries gallery in New York City, this piece exemplifies his mastery of atmospheric light and sculptural form. The subject is rendered with a heavy, pensive gravity, using deep blacks and a subtle "halo" of light—a signature Martínez technique that gives the figure a timeless, monolithic presence.

As an intaglio print, the work displays a clear, pressed plate mark, indicating a sophisticated level of production. The use of perforated paper at the top edge suggests this may have been part of a limited portfolio or an artist’s proof pulled during his New York residency. Martínez’s work from this era is highly sought after by collectors of Mexican Modernism and the New York School alike, bridging the gap between Latin American figurative traditions and mid-century existentialism.

Specifications

• Artist: Ricardo Martínez de Hoyos

• Origin: New York City / Mexico

• Date: 1959

• Medium: Etching and Aquatint on heavy wove paper

• Dimensions: 24 in (H) x 18 in (L)

• Signature: Signed and dated "MARTINEZ 59" in the plate (lower right).

• Note: Consistent with the artist’s 1959-1960 "New York Period" style and signature format.

Keywords: Ricardo Martínez de Hoyos, Mexican Modernism, 1959 New York art, The Contemporaries Gallery, intaglio print, rare etching, pensive man, monumental figuration, Latin American master, mid-century modern, plate mark, signed Martínez, 1950s NYC gallery, collectible fine art, chiaroscuro portrait.