After checking out several Buenos Aires street markets, including San Telmo and Retiro, I purchased art in Recoleta at Plaza Francia. Along with other paintings from my travels, they will be great additions to my home gallery!
Artist Claudia Svetliza started selling her paintings at Plaza Francia fifteen years ago. After a divorce, she needed to support herself, so she learned to paint.
I bought two of her paintings that have an interesting, “unfinished” style. One is a street scene in San Telmo – Café Viejo Almacén (Old Warehouse). Café Almacén is a famous traditional tango parlor. It’s in the historical area of San Telmo on a corner that “harbors the soul of the mysterious city of Buenos Aires“.
The history of Viejo Almacén goes back to 1933, when a Russian woman nicknamed “La Volga” turned the warehouse into a tango bar frequented by sailors. Argentine singer Edmundo Rivero started his career at Almacén.
Another of Claudia’s paintings is of two elegant tango dancers. I also found a beautiful pen and ink of a bandoneón player. The bandoneón is considered an essential instrument in most tango ensembles. The artist spoke zero English, and he didn’t understand my Spanish, so there’s no background info. It’s a lovely piece with gorgeous detail and will be a joy to look at every day.
It paid off that you took time to find the paintings you like. They are very well done and beautiful!