The Apocalypse of Saint John

1959

The Apocalypse of Saint John, 1959. Rufino Tamayo (Mexican, 1899–1991). Color lithograph; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Roberta Holden Bole Fund 1967.25.10 © Tamayo Heirs / Mexico / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York Rufino Tamayo first experimented with color printmaking in Paris, shortly after traveling there for the first time in 1948. Tamayo was one of numerous artists who benefited from a growing international interest in Mexican art throughout Europe and the United States in the mid-1900s. This publication features brightly colored illustrations for the book of Revelation from a 17th-century French translation of the Christian Bible. Tamayo’s images—like the one here—suggest rather than directly depict the biblical content, using vivid brushstrokes. While making this lithograph, Rufino Tamayo used his own fingertips in addition to traditional tools, as seen throughout the image.