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b. 1906, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
d. 1957, Paris, France

Oscar Domínguez was a Spanish Surrealist painter known for his inventive techniques and distinctive artistic vision. Born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna on the Canary Island of Tenerife, Domínguez’s early life was shaped by the loss of his mother and a serious illness that affected his skeletal structure. At the age of 21, Domínguez moved to Paris to work for his father’s export business in the bustling central market of Les Halles. Immersed in the city’s rich artistic culture, he began frequenting art schools, galleries, and museums. Influenced by avant-garde painters like Max Ernst, Yves Tanguy, Salvador Dalí, and Pablo Picasso, Domínguez quickly embraced Surrealism.

In 1933, Domínguez met key figures on the Surrealist movement like André Breton and Paul Éluard in 1933. He participated in major Surrealist exhibitions across Europe, including those in Copenhagen, London, and Tenerife. During his time in Paris, he also studied experimental printmaking under Stanley William Hayter at the renowned Atelier 17.

One of Domínguez’s most significant contributions to Surrealism was his adaptation of the decalcomania technique in 1936. Using thin layers of gouache spread on a surface like paper or glass and then pressed onto canvas, he created richly textured and dreamlike images that became a hallmark of his style.

Beginning in 1952, Domínguez was in a romantic relationship with Marie-Laure de Noailles, a prominent patron of the Surrealists and descendant of the Marquis de Sade. Despite his artistic success, Domínguez struggled with inner turmoil. On December 31, 1957, he tragically ended his life in Paris. Marie-Laure arranged for his burial in the Bischoffsheim family mausoleum at Montparnasse Cemetery.

Domínguez’s legacy endures through his inventive techniques and evocative works. His art has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Reina Sofía in Madrid, and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.