Il Calvario – Rare Cubist Lithograph of Christ by Héctor Zablach (1980s–90s) – Signed Limited Edition

Artist: Héctor Zablach
Medium: Lithograph
Technique: Oil-color lithograph on paper
Dimensions: 48 x 67 cm
Date: Circa 1980s–1990s (exact date not specified)
Edition: Limited edition (serial number may be found on specific print)
Signature: Signed by hand in silver in the lower right corner: Zablach
Catalog Reference: Listed as the fourth artwork in the portfolio (“In cartella”) of Zablach’s catalog.

Description:

IL CALVARIO is a powerful depiction of Christ on the cross, rendered with emotional intensity and expressive force. The artist’s brushwork—bold, textured, and fluid—breathes life into the suffering figure of Christ, capturing both his physical torment and profound spiritual isolation. Warm earthy tones dominate the composition, with ochres, browns, and sienna conveying a raw, human vulnerability.

Christ’s head leans to one side, his eyes closed in solemn resignation, while the crown of thorns and blood stains mark the depth of his sacrifice. The background is abstract and somber, with faint hints of landscape, focusing the viewer entirely on the figure. The anatomy is distorted just enough to heighten the spiritual symbolism without losing realism—typical of Zablach’s mature style.

Artistic Context:

This lithograph is part of a sacred-themed series that includes works such as Verso il Calvario, Il Cristo Azzurro, and Il Cristo in Croce. These were all created by Héctor Zablach, a Chilean artist born in 1934 and trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Buenos Aires. Zablach’s work often reflects an intersection of European modernism and Latin American mysticism. Profoundly spiritual and existential, his religious compositions are less about dogma and more about human suffering and redemption.

The piece is a strong testament to Zablach’s unique ability to merge expressive form with spiritual content, offering a quiet yet overwhelming emotional experience.