Pedro Ángel González

He was born on September 9, 1901 in Santa Ana del Norte, Nueva Esparta State and died on March 31, 1981 In Caracas. Plastic Artistic (Painter, drawer, designer, portraitist, engraver, educationist, and art critic) recognized as the Master of Brightness, he developed a whole code of landscape shape representation taking El Valle of Caracas as an inspiration, interested in the synthesis and brightness. His father was Pedro González, a repairer of hats who worked in Juan Griego, he had his first son Pedro Ángel and lately Marcos, Pablo, Heriberto, and Rosa Elena. In 1912 Pedro Ángel is recognized by his progenitor, he learned the trade of his father and he became in his assistant.

In 1913 the artist of Trujillo State Numa Pompilio Briceño, drawer and portraitist influences Pedro Ángel González to make several drawings with charcoal and pencil; his father was pleased by them, who encourages Pedro Ángel to study drawing.

In 1916 he travelled to Caracas and joined the Academic of Beauty Arts thanks to a pension and received his first drawing class from Master Cruz Álvarez García. In 1920 make contact with several Masters of the Beauty Arts Circle: Manuel Cabré, José Antonio Calcaño, and Antonio Edmundo Monsanto; making a friendship with the last mentioned and additionally with Armando Reverón. From the 1922 he started the study and practice of the engraving. At the end of that year he abandoned the Academy.

In 1926 he decided to give up the drawing until 1936 when he restarted his work as a painter, at the same time he was accepted as a teacher in the Plastic Art School of Caracas, where he found the Graphic Art Workshop that he leads for 17 years. In this building he was also established in the teaching of painting and drawing, becoming the Institution director between 1959 and 1960.

Works and Contributions

• Towards 1924 he became drawing professor in the Fermín Toro high school, where he worked for 7 years.
• In 1925 he started to make drawings in labels and advertising for the American Typography.
• In 1936 he started to work as a drawer and lithographer in the factory of tinplate and steel packaging “Domínguez y Cía “in which he remains for 20 years.
• In 1937 he made Calle de Guaira (GAN Collection) maybe the first etching made in Venezuela.
• After its creation in 1938, his etchings illustrated the National of Culture Magazine.  Planchart pointed out the importance that has the domain of etching in the realism and brightness of his paintings in 1937.
• In 1976 he's appointed Honorary Chairman of the Graphic Artist Associate Workshop "G.A.A.W" (Known in Spanish as "T.A.G.A")

The Master Pedro Ángel González made profound changes to the Topography and Landscaping of Caracas, becoming an important icon inside the capital.

         

                   

Awards

• In 1942 He won the Official Painting Award in the 3rd Official Hall.
• Antonio Edmundo Monsanto Award, 4th Arturo Michelena Hall. Arístides Rojas Award, 10th Official Hall. Both Awards were received in 1948.
• Popular Award, 3rd Planchart Hall, 1950.
• Antonio Herrera Toro Award, 15th Official Hall, 1954.
• Popular Award, 7th Planchart Hall, 1955.
• Second Award, 8th Planchart Hall, 1956
• Armando Reverón Award, 17th Official Hall.
• Rotary Club Award, 20th Official Hall, 1959.
• In the Resolution of the Government of Nueva Esparta State, the Plastic Arts School of La Asunción carried the name of the Master since 1975 in his honour.
• Between 1991 and 1992 the government of Federal District made a posthumous exhibition for the 90th birth anniversary of the Master. In the same year Pedro Ángel González Foundation is formed and it's created the medal of Beauty Arts that carry his name.
• In 2009 Jesús Morales Ruiz founded the Cultural Touristic Complex La Mira CCT, and created the Pedro Ángel González Art Museum, paying tribute to the Artist.

The work of the Master Pedro Ábgel González is represented in the permanent room of the Contemporary Art Museum Francisco Narváez in Porlamar, Nueva Esparta State.