Enrique Estévez Ochoa

 

1891.
Enrique Estévez Ochoa, better Known as "Enrique Ochoa", was born on 27th April in "El Puerto de Santa María" (Cádiz).
1896.
When he was only five years old, he and his family embarked for the Philippines, via Singapore, following the enlistment of his father, an Infantry Lieutenant, to fight against the insurrections that were taking place there.
1898.
His mother however died in the battle of Cavite (Philippines) a year later, so his father and his siblings Henry and María Felisa returned to Spain.  Tragedy struck again when, two years later, his father died following a serious illness.
1899.
Little Enrique joined the María Cristina Academy for bringing up military orphans in Toledo, where he was impressed by the work of El Greco. He came to the decision that he wanted to be a painter, and began his artistic training.
1907.
Ochoa later settled in Seville, where he began to study at the College of Fine Arts and began to make a living painting the typical residents of a Sevillean neighbourhood.
1914.
Following this Enrique moved to Madrid. Immersed in the Bohemian atmosphere, he began to emerge as the standars bearer of modernism and art deco.
1917.
Later, Ochoa developed expertise as an illustrator, working for several publications such as "For those Worlds" (Por esos Mundos), "The Sphere" (La Esfera), "The New World" (El Nuevo Mundo), "Stamp" or "White and Black" (Estampa o Blanco y Negro) with which he collaborated until 1931.
1919.
He married Julia Puertas Gonzalez in the Parish of San Antonio de la Florida and they had three children (two of whom died in infancy). Their marriage lasted only a few years.
1925.
Ochoa moved to Barcelona where he joined one of his students, Carmen Oses Hidalgo, a painter from Bilbao, who he lived, painted and travelled around the world with until her death in 1961.
1933.
He painted and paid tribute to Federico García Lorca.
1936.
He was awarded the Grand Prize of the Venice Biennale .
1936-1939.
Due to the Spanish Civil War, he left Spain and went to París.
1940.
He returned to Spain and lived in Mallorca until his death (1949). Ochoa spent his time secluded in the Cell Number 4 of the Cartuja de Valldemossa, the same cell where Federic Chopin also stayed. There he creates the "internal images" reflection of a dream world and began his phase called "Musical Plastic".
1969.
He obtained the Princess Sofia Extraordinary Prize. Autumn Salon of Madrid.
1970.
Gold medal at the International Grand Prix Exhibition in Paris. He is named "Grand Officier de l'Ordre de P.A.H.C". Member of the Lutèce International Academy of Arts .
1978.
Enrique Ochoa dies in Palma de Mallorca. His mortal remains are transferred to his hometown in El Puerto de Santa María, where a street is dedicated in his name.