Sergio Camargo (1930-1990)

Acquired directly from the artist
By descent to the present owner

The painted panel is in very good condition. The panel has been recently cleaned with only minor soiling evident on the surface. The painted surface is tightly bound with no losses evident on the surface. All of the painted dowels are accounted for with minor wear noted on some of the edges. The paint is thinly applied on some of the dowels areas revealing the end grain of the wood below. Minor breaks in the paint layer can be seen around the bottom of the dowels where they come in contact with the panel. These tiny cracks in the paint are a result of dimensional movement in the wood and characteristic of aged wood. These cracks are stable and do not require treatment. A seam on the square strips of wood on the back of the panel has opened and the adjacent strip of wood moves slightly. The panel is structurally sound. No significant damage was noted on sculpture. (This condition report has been provided courtesy of Wilson Conservation, LLC)
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Museographer, diplomatic and arts promoter Fernando Gamboa, was a prominent figure in all matters relating to cultural politics in Mexico during the second half of the twentieth century. Recognized for championing a vision of a “modern” Mexico, Gamboa is credited with producing, curating, and designing over one thousand exhibitions during a long and ever-dynamic career. It was during his tenure as Director of the Modern Art Museum in Mexico City from 1972 to 1981, that Gamboa introduced leading international artists to a Mexican public that remained relatively unware of other modernist languages. Amongst these figures were Brazilian Constructivist Sergio Camargo, for whom he curated his first exhibition in Mexico.

Executed in 1972, Número 401 is emblamatic of the artist's Parisian period where he favored structuring monochrome white surfaces with cylindrical wooden reliefs. As a member of the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel, Camargo was attracted to the interplay of light and shadow, order and chaos. Gifted to Gamboa, the present work has remained in the family's collection as testimony of their lasting friendship.