Guillermo Collazo

Who was Guillermo Collazo?

Guillermo Collazo Tejada was a Cuban painter. His first studies took place in his native city; in 1868, his parents sent him to the United States, as the family's support for Cuban independence was thought to be endangering his life. He worked as a colorist in a photography studio in New York City for a time, before opening his own painting studio. He became famous for his portraits. In 1883, he returned to Cuba, settling for some time in Havana before moving to France, where he lived for the rest of his life. Besides painting portraits, Collazo also produced landscapes and genre scenes. Some of his work may be seen in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana.