Mauricio-flores Kaperotxipi (1901-1997) "leaving Church - Basque Country" Oil/canvas 80x70

Mauricio Flores Kaperotxipi (1901 – 1997) “Regreso de la iglesia” Oil on canvas signed lower left L: 80.0 cms x H: 70.0 cms Kaperotxipi, Mauricio Flores (Zarautz 1901- 1997): his life, his work. In his early youth, Mauricio worked in the family clothing workshop while taking evening classes in drawing. At the age of 17 he settled in Madrid and joined the workshop of López Mezquita where he perfected his skills in drawing and painting. He remained there for 8 years. In 1922, he won first prize at the exhibition of New Artists of the province of Guipuzcoa in the painting category, with his painting “the return of the fishing”. In 1927, he exhibited 70 portraits of Basque characters in the salons of the Council of Gipuzkoa then was invited to exhibit in Argentina where he enjoyed great success in the early 1930s. He settled in Buenos Aires in 1937 because of the Civil War. During his years of exile he also worked as a writer and journalist in connection with Basque arts. He notably published two books there: “Pintores vascos y no vascos” (1947) and “Arte vasco” (1954). In 1958 he opened an art gallery there. With the end of Francoism, he returned to Spain in 1974 and ended his life in his native village.