Above: Blogger’s unnecessary and intrusive fusion of Javier Jaen’s “Goya” banana (see below) with Francisco Goya’s “The Naked Maja.”

I have an interest in making things as immediate and easy to understand as possible…. It’s not always about how things look technically, but about what they say.”

Javier Jaen interviewed by Molly Long for Design Week, October 20, 2020

And artist/graphic designer Javier Jaen (1983-) succeeds in that immediacy. Without glimpsing the “Goya” title, anyone familiar with “The Naked Maja” by Francisco de Goya (1748-1828) would instantly recognize the banana as referencing it.

“Goya” by Javier Jaen

Goya’s “Maja” had to go into hiding because of harsh church censorship during the Spanish Inquisition. So he created a second clothed version, still sultry. Jaen’s suggestive banana, on the other hand, would never be required to pull up its peel to be presentable in public.

We bumped into a wall-size version of Jaen’s come-hither banana at Gallerie d’Italia this past fall in Vicenza, not far from Padua. Gallerie mounted a solo exhibition of his work – “Illustrissimo Javier Jaen” – in collaboration with the Illustri Cultural Foundation.

Jaen’s name might not be one you recognize, but his work? It’s impossible to envision not having encountered the Barcelona-born artist’s work somewhere: The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Barron’s, El Pais, The Telegraph, National Geographic, Vanity Fair, book covers, and on and on and on.

I translate concepts and stories into images. For my work I use graphic design, illustration and photography as key ingredients, even if I don’t feel like a graphic designer, an illustrator or a photographer. They are just disciplines that help me dress up ideas…. what interests me is the concept of communication, beyond any possible language.”

Javier Jaen

Above: Works by Javier Jaen

On the bottom right, “Summer in the City.” And yes, unlike a crocodile, I would cry real tears over spilt ice cream.

Hope Jaen has enough Trumpian punches percolating in his brain to last four more years.