"Carmen Amaya" by Porfirio Salinas

“Carmen Amaya” Porfirio Salinas (1910-1973)
12 x 16”, oil on canvas
Signed and dated 1959
*click on image to view whole artwork

Widely regarded as one of the best Texas artists, Porfirio Salinas was one of the first Mexican-American artists to gain recognition from his art and was a favorite of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as Sam Rayburn, just to name a few. His works are included in about every major collection of early Texas art.

His subject here, Carmen Amaya, captured in passionate movement, was considered to be one of the most outstanding flamenco dancers in the 20th century and continues to be one of the most imitated. She revolutionized female flamenco dance and broke many of the rules. There hasn't been a bailaora (female flamenco dancer) since who has equaled her ferocious style of dance. Carmen Amaya danced with the flowing ease of a serpent, driven by what seemed like an animal instinct. One newspaper described her dance as that of being "soul, pure soul."