TORREGROSA AND CAMPILLO FALLAS EN ALCOY. 1936. 47 5/8x32 inches. Hijos C. Albors, Alcoy. Condition A-: expert restoration in top left corner. Framed. Among the many Spanish feasts and celebrations that occur every year, the Fallas is one of the most exciting. The week long festival that originally honored St. Joseph, culminates in the burning of gigantic wooden statues all around the city. Fallas literally means fire, but also refers to the wooden statues themselves, which are normally effigies of politicians or other public figures. The origins of the tradition are rooted in a century-old pagan ritual welcoming the spring solstice. The largest of these celebrations takes place in March in Valencia, but here, in neighboring Alcoy, they were held in August. This poster is surprising in that it is much more graphically interesting than usual. Against the jet-black background, the artist has evoked a minimalist face out of the flames, a clock (perhaps indicating the midnight hour when the statues are all set aflame) and the illuminated eyes of a bystander enjoying the bonfire. Espana 419.
