De Pont Museum Netherlands acquires Two Iconic Works by Beatriz González

The Las Delicias series was inspired by the tragic events of 30 August 1996, when 60 young soldiers were kidnapped by the FARC guerrilla movement at the Las Delicias military base in southern Colombia. During the attack, several soldiers lost their lives, and the survivors were held captive for 288 days. This harrowing event left a profound mark on Colombian society and inspired González to create this poignant series of small paintings.

At 92 years old, González continues to highlight universal expressions of grief through her work. The Las Delicias series depicts women covering their faces with their hands in an act of mourning. González describes the series as “a representation of pain, a symbol that reflects both individual sorrow and collective suffering. The simple act of hiding one’s face with one’s hands is a universal gesture of loss and mourning.”

With this acquisition, De Pont enriches its collection of Beatriz González’s work, emphasizing its commitment to a world perspective and to making the oeuvre of this influential Latin American artist more accessible. Alongside institutions like Tate Modern, Reina Sofia, and MoMA, De Pont stands among a select group of Western museums to collect González’s work.

Main Image: Las Delicias 13, 1997, Collection De Pont Museum, Tilburg, photo: Beau Swierstra