La Tranquera Abierta from the portfolio "Grabados en Madera"

Teodorico Quiros

A woodcut from the portfolio "Grabados en Madera" published and printed in Costa Rica in 1934 by the Imprenta Nacional, San Jose. It included woodcuts in various woods by Costa Rican artists: Francisco Amighetti, Francisco Zuniga, Manuel de la Cruz Gonzales, Carlos M. Salazar Herrera, Gilbert Laporte, Theodorico Quiros and Adolfo Saenz. The portfolio was done in an anticipated edition of 300 (this being from #79) and each print was signed in ink by the artist. There was a preface to the portfolio by Abelardo Bonilla which was printed autographically. These works are quite rare.

Translating loosely to “the open gate,” Teodorico Quiros depicts a woman resting against the gate of a wooden fence, her palm placed against her face in a gesture of patient waiting. Quiros’ imagery often focused around his homeland of Costa Rica and the people and places he grew up with. As with many of Quiros’ works in this portfolio there is an simplicity of line that asks the viewer to contemplate the value of seeing the world unadorned, and to witness beauty in the everyday.