Luis Filcer

Luis Filcer (December 4, 1927 – July 19, 2018 in San Miguel de Allende) was a Mexican Expressionist painter, whose works generally deal with themes of injustice and struggle. His family fled Ukraine for Mexico after the Russian Revolution to escape Jewish persecution and Filcer grew up in Mexico City. Although his interest in painting came early, he had to sell a painting before his family would accept his vocation. Strongly influenced by Van Gogh's life, he began to draw and paint the struggles of everyday people, something he has continued since. His work has been exhibited in various countries of the world and has been recognized with several medals and membership in the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

Life Filcer was born in Zhytomyr, Ukraine in 1927 to a Jewish family. When he was only six months old, the family fled the country because of Jewish persecution after the Russian Revolution. No one in his family would talk about horrors they experienced in Ukraine. After arriving to Mexico City, the family settled in the La Lagunilla neighborhood. His father was able to speak only a few words in Spanish and sold clothing in the streets. He later formed a partnership with other immigrants to open a sweater factory. Since childhood, Filcer disliked school but learned to draw. He also studied accounting in order to help his father. He stated that although working at the family business was hard, he was able to meet many people in this way, for whom he often drew pictures for fun.

When he was sixteen he entered the Academy of San Carlos to study painting, attending class in the morning and working in the afternoon. Each evening after the close of business, he painted. He later studied at the workshop of Spanish painter José Bardasano for three years, focusing on drawing and painting.

He began his career in Mexico, where he sold his first painting and in 1949 worked at the Taller de Gráfica Popular.

Artistry Filcer settled on an aesthetic early, primarily in the use of chiaroscuro to express drama and strong Expressionism. He is inclined towards thick brushstrokes for strong, sudden effect. He declares himself a "fervent admirer of Van Gogh, Goya and José Clemente Orozco." He was influenced by the works of Van Gogh which depicted the hard life of miners as well as Goya's depictions of war. Influence from José Clemente Orozco is evident in some of his works, especially in sarcasm. He stated "I paint all that I experience including my fantasies and demons; I am an Expressionist and I paint what stirs my emotions.

His work does not depict idealism, but rather explores themes of justice and injustice to provoke change. He is concerned with the "decadent communication" that dominates among people and he mocks indifference, intolerance and misunderstanding. His figures show experience, faces and emaciated bodies struggling to survive. His topics are frank and defined. He has done works related to the Tlatelolco massacre, casinos in Las Vegas, the Mexican Revolution and the Mexico City Metro.