🔥 Antique Old Mexican Folk Art Portrait Oil Painting, Agapito Labios 1920s for Sale

On eBay Now...

🔥 Antique Old Mexican Folk Art Portrait Oil Painting, Agapito Labios 1920s For Sale

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

🔥 Antique Old Mexican Folk Art Portrait Oil Painting, Agapito Labios 1920s:
$2750.00

This is a charming and highly collectibleAntique Old Mexican Folk Art Portrait Oil Painting on canvas, attributed to the legendary early Mexican Folk Artist, Agapito Labios (1898 - 1996.) This portrait likely dates to the 1920's - 1930's, and depicts a young boy dressed as a 19th century Mexican Naval Officer. He stands in a large room, with a window to the left revealing an ocean and large masted galleon in the distance. On the nearby desk, a small miniature cannon and inkwell are visible. The boy stares out at just to the side of the viewer's gaze, with a determined and prideful expression. I could not locate a signature on this artwork, but I am 100% confident that this artwork is by Agapito Labios. I have had several of his paintings in my gallery over the years (all of which have sold quickly,) and I am very familiar with his technique and the artist materials he used. offer with confidence. Approximately 20 1/2 x 26 inches (including frame.) Actual artwork is approximately 17 3/4 x 23 3/4 inches. The name "Hofer" is written on the top stretcher bar, and on a piece of masking tape on the verso. From the notations of measurements included, I can ascertain this was the name of the previous owner and frame shop customer who had this work custom framed, probably sometime in the 1940's - 1950's. Good condition for nearly a century of age, with some small pinhole tears, and various areas of light discoloration (probably old varnish residue.) Agapito's portraits of little military figures are among his most coveted, and this painting is Priced to Sell. Acquired in Southern Texas, United States. If you like what you see, I encourage you to make an Offer. Please check out my other listings for more wonderful and unique artworks!
About the Artist:
Agapito LabiosBorn:1898 - Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico
Died:1996Known for:Folk art figure paintingName variants:Labios Agapito, Agipito Labios
Agapito Labios (Mexican, 1898-1996). Agapito Labios was born Agapito Engel Cifuentes in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico in September of 1898. He took an active part in the Mexican Revolution and was put in prison. There he started painting the cell wall. The mayor of the town saw his paintings, liked them, and ordered him to paint his two little girls. Thus his artistic career began.

Labios was a self taught artist and made his living doing portraits - painting his children in the primitive Mexican style. He started selling on Sundays in the Lagunilla (the thieves market) and immediately his fame began to grow. He later had a shop called Mercado de Artesanias at La Ciudadela in Mexico City where his work was sought out by collectors worldwide.

He died in 1996, and his son currently owns the shop.Agapito Labios: From jail cells to Sotheby's and Christie's:

Mexican Artist Agapito Labios started his career from a jail cell. We take a look at his story and see how his work went from a jail cell to sales at Sotheby's and Christie's.

Labios' active role in the Mexican Revolution landed him in jail. It was here that he started painting on his jailcell wall. His works were spottedby the mayor of Pachuca, who ordered Labios to teach histwo daughters, spurring onLabios' career.

Agapito went on to make a living out of his Folk art figure paintings. The artist's work is defined by his highly stylized portraits, often with children as the subjects in formal dress, with typical Mexican backgrounds such as farming fields and or town squares.

Labios sold his work in La Lagunilla Market, in Mexico City, on Sundays, gaining him popularity and success. This lead to Agapito opening his own shop in Mexico City, which his son took ownership of after Labios' death in 1996.

Works by Agapito were sold in the sale of Katharine Hepburn's estate on June 10, 2004, at Sotheby's, New York.