Untitled, 1961
Painting : oil · 102 x 33 x 3 cm 40.2 x 13 x 1.2 inch · Ready to hang
€6,000
6 000 €
Delivered in time for Christmas
Shipping & delivery
Shipped from: Spain
Delivery to: Germany , € 180
Estimated delivery: Three to four weeks
Free returns within 14 days, full refund
Authenticity guaranteed
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery Learn more
Secure payment • Card, Amex, PayPal...
We accept several payment methods:
Paypal
American Express
Visa
Mastercard
Apple Pay
Google Pay
- Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard)
- American Express
- PayPal
- Bank transfer
- Gift card
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
All payments are secured with 3D Secure validation to protect your confidential information.
Verified Reviews : 9.6/10
Similar works
About the artwork
Type
Painting : Unique artwork
Condition
Artwork sold in perfect condition, framed, ready to hang
Authenticity
Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery
Invoice from the gallery
Signature
Hand-signed by artist
Dimensions ( cm • inch )
102 x 33 x 3 cm 40.2 x 13 x 1.2 inch Height x Width x Depth
Artwork dimensions including frame
107 x 38 x 4 cm 42.1 x 15 x 1.6 inch
Sold by
Art gallery
Credentials
Vetted seller since 2026
Description
For the young Ruano, Morocco was a place of profound aesthetic revelation. While working and teaching in Tetouan, he actively absorbed the visual culture of the Maghreb: the sun-scorched landscape, the ancient architecture of the medina, the raw textures of plaster, the warmth of wood grain, and the archaic depth of local traditions.
It was during this Tetouan period that Dámaso Ruano definitively moved away from traditional academic figurative art, transitioning toward ethno-expressionism and matter-based abstraction (). This painting on wood serves as a prime testament to that critical evolution.
In this work, Ruano skillfully balances on the boundary between several artistic movements:
Cubism and the African Mask: The central character's face is deconstructed into rigorous planes and facets. Ruano references the early Cubism of Picasso and Derain, who themselves drew inspiration from African plastic arts. For Ruano, however, this is no mere stylistic exercise—it is a deep contextual immersion. The face evokes an ancient totem or an African mask, carrying a sense of timeless dignity.
The Materiality of Wood and : Working on a wooden support is a defining characteristic of Ruano's artistic practice. Wood is not merely a substrate for him, but a full co-creator. The dry, cracked texture of the terracotta background, showing through layers of paint, echoes the weather-worn walls of Tetouan and the sun-baked African earth.
Verticality and Monumental Stasis: The elongated proportions, characteristic of early 20th-century Expressionism and avant-garde art, lend the figure the presence of an architectural element—a column or a monolith.
The color palette of Ruano's Moroccan period is built upon sharp emotional contrast:
The Fiery Background: Dense, layered tones of terracotta, ochre, and burnt earth symbolize the heat, outward expression, and energy of the African continent.
The Restrained Center: Ash-grey, muted pale, and light tones in the garments and headwrap create a zone of silence, spiritual concentration, and composure.
The Tetouan period proved foundational for Dámaso Ruano. Upon relocating to Málaga in 1969, he brought with him this unique visual repertoire—a mastery of collage, torn paper, wood, geometry, and the “memory of materials."
Ruano's Moroccan works represent a rare and immensely valuable chapter of his oeuvre. In them, the avant-garde structure still retains the warmth of a human (or totemic) presence, while ethno-expressionism manifests not as stylistic imitation, but as a genuine living of North African culture and spirit.
Presentation
Born in Tetouan, Morocco, in 1938. He studied in Madrid until 1958, returning to Morocco where he remained until 1969.
From 1960 to 1965, he taught drawing classes, hired by the Government of Morocco, and from that year to 1968, resides in Kenitra as Director of the Spanish Cultural Mission in that city.
It has belonged to the so-called "School of Tetouan", composed of Spanish and Moroccan artists, with whom he collaborated in collective exhibitions and various artistic manifestations.
He has made numerous murals, works of architecture, design and urbanism. It has works in official and private collections in Spain, Morocco, France, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Ireland and Germany.
It is represented in the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art of Cuenca, Provincial Museum of BB.AA. of Malaga, Museum of Africa in Madrid, Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engraving, Pablo Ruiz Picasso Foundation, etc.
Medal of the City of Málaga 2014 and Adoptive Son of the same.
Discover similar artists
Reviews from our customers
All our reviews are extracted from Verified Reviews
You may also like
Dámaso Ruano
Painting . 90 x 63 x 3 cm Painting . 35.4 x 24.8 x 1.2 inch
€5,990
Frédérique Manley
Painting . 55 x 42 x 2 cm Painting . 21.7 x 16.5 x 0.8 inch
€900
Sabine Louriac
Painting . 65 x 50 x 2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,000
Recommended by Artsper
Bill Parker
Painting . 53 x 36 cm Painting . 20.9 x 14.2 inch
€850
Zakhar Shevchuk
Painting . 46 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 18.1 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
€1,050
Jacques Faugeroux
Painting . 65 x 50 x 0.2 cm Painting . 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
€575
Marleen Stegeman
Painting . 100 x 70 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 27.6 x 1 inch
€5,000
Need help?
How do I showcase my work?
Have you purchased a painting, sculpture or work on paper?
Find our expert advice for the conservation and promotion of your works in the articles below:
Protect your purchase with Artsper: Buy with confidence
At Artsper, our mission is to allow you to collect works of art with complete peace of mind. Discover the protections we offer at every stage of your shopping experience.
Buy works from top galleries
We work in close collaboration with carefully selected art galleries. Each seller on Artsper is carefully examined and approved by our team, thus ensuring compliance with our code of ethics. You therefore have the assurance of purchasing authentic, high-quality works.
Total transparency: you know what you are buying
Before being posted online, all artwork on Artsper is reviewed and validated by our moderation team. You can browse with complete peace of mind, knowing that each piece meets our criteria of excellence.
Personalized support: our experts at your service
Our team of contemporary art experts is available by phone or email to answer all your questions. Whether you want advice on a work or a tailor-made selection to enrich your collection, we are here to support you.
Resell your works with ease
If you have purchased a work on Artsper and wish to resell it, we offer you a dedicated platform to relist it. To find out more, click here.
Make offers with Artsper: negotiate like in a gallery
You have the possibility to propose a price for certain works, just like in a gallery. This feature allows you to initiate discussions and potentially acquire your coins at advantageous prices.
Get help with your negotiations
Our team will negotiate for you and inform you as soon as the best offer is obtained. Do not hesitate to call on our expertise to ensure a transaction at the best price.
Order securely
Artsper satisfaction assurance
We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. If the work you receive is not to your liking, you have 14 days to return it free of charge, and you will be refunded in full, whatever the reason.
Secure payment with Artsper partners
All credit card payments are processed by Paybox, the world leader in payment solutions. Thanks to their strict security standards, you can transact with confidence.
Problem Support
In the rare event that an artwork arrives damaged or not as described, we are here to help. Whether for a return, refund, restoration or exchange, our team will support you throughout the process and will ensure that we find the solution best suited to your situation.
Conditions to benefit from Artsper protections:
Use one of the payment methods available on Artsper for your order.
Report any problems within one week of receiving the work.
Provide required photographic evidence (including original artwork and packaging).
Artsper guarantees cover the following cases:
The received work lacks a described characteristic (for example, a signature or frame).
The artwork has significant differences from its description (e.g. color variation).
The work is damaged upon receipt.
The work is lost or damaged by the carrier.
Delivery is significantly delayed.
With Artsper, you collect with complete peace of mind.
Why choose Artsper for your art purchases
Artsper offers you access to more than 200,000 works of contemporary art from 2,000 partner galleries. Our team of experts carefully selects galleries to guarantee the quality and originality of the works.
You benefit from:
Works at gallery price
Return within 14 days, regardless of your location
Easy resale of the work purchased on Artsper
Personalized research tools (selection and tailor-made universe)
Our customer service is available for any assistance.
Where can I be delivered?
Artsper delivers internationally. The list of countries is available in the first step of your cart.
If your country is not listed contact us at [email protected] and we will see what we can do.
Note that Customs fees may apply for works shipped internationally. This is indicated in the first step of the shopping cart.
You can choose a delivery address different from the billing address. Make sure that a trusted person is present to receive the work if you cannot be there.