Antón perfectly masters both the numerous sculptural techniques, from carving to modelling, as well as the materials he uses to make his pieces.
The basic material with which he worked was plaster, because it is easy to model and can be modified while it is still wet. However, due to the fragility of the material, sculptures made from plaster need to be transferred to a definitive, more resistant material. As this was very expensive, most of Antón’s pieces stayed in plaster.
Made in cast bronze in approximately 1932, this sculpture is a portrait of Antón’s friend, when they were both living in Madrid. It is the only piece known to date that was made in bronze while Antón was still alive, since the other pieces on display in this room were made in approximately 1989, the year in which this museum was inaugurated.
The piece is a chestnut wood bust that Antón made of his own grandmother, taking advantage of the time the old woman spent napping in the afternoons next to the fireplace.
In this sculpture, the artist renounces any hint of idealisation and delves into the inner life of the character, giving it an exceptional expressive force.
The piece was created only one year after the artist moved to Madrid, showing how easily Antón learnt how to carve wood, a material with which he had not worked before, since the pieces he had previously created had been made in plaster.
In this bust, from approximately 1934, Antón portrays his cousin Maruja, whom he considered his muse. In Candás, Maruja was known as “La Grata”, because of her resemblance to the swedish actress Greta Garbo.
The piece has different finishes. There is a rough surface at the base of the sculpture, from which a polished and shiny neck emerges and a face with perfectly defined features. The most interesting part of the piece is the sculptor’s meticulous carving of the woman’s hair.
This sculpture is impeccably executed, reflecting the sculptor’s mastery of stone carving.
