Review: Emilio Pettoruti's Radical Paintings

Gore, nudity, and defaced religious iconography hardly shock today's art world. But in early 20th century Argentina, modern art was novel enough to scandalize and divide audiences.

The Argentinian artist Emilio Pettoruti caused a stir when he returned home from Europe, where he studied among cubists and futurists. Pettoruti's geometric, abstract paintings of musicians and harlequins were not warmly received at first. But he soon became one of the country's most prominent painters, fusing Latin American and modern European art.

One of his most famous works, El Quinteto, depicts five hat-wearing musicians in warm tones. One can almost hear the mustachioed men playing tango music on a lively Buenos Aires street at dusk. Pettoruti spent his final days in Europe, but he will be most remembered for his works celebrating the spirits of both artists and Argentines.