Leon Underwood (1890-1975)

Underwood was fascinated by the art of the 'primitive'. Throughout his life, Underwood visited a number of countries in search of subject matter. In 1928, he travelled down the south-eastern shore of the Gulf of Mexico, up the rivers of Tabasco and over the Sierra Madre to the Pacific east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec studying the Mayan and Aztec art. As they travelled Underwood painted and sketched the local people and the guides with whom they travelled.