Wifredo Lam, a Cuban surrealist painter, is one of the greatest South American artists of the 20th century.

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Born into an African culture and influenced by the traditions of his priestess grandmother, Lam developed a unique artistic style. Between 1918 and 1923, he studied painting at the Escuela de Bellas Artes but rejected the academicism that was taught there. In 1923, he went to Madrid, where he deepened his artistic knowledge. There he frequented many artists and discovered western and primitive art. The tragedy of losing his wife and son in 1931 is then reflected in each of his works.

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In 1938, Lam moved to Paris where he met Pablo Picasso, which will have a great influence on his painting. In 1941, he returned to Cuba, where his creation was now characterized by the presence of a hybrid figure that was half human, half vegetable or animal. In 1943, he began his most famous and most successful work, The Jungle.

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Until the end of her life, Lam continued to paint and participated in numerous exhibitions. He died at the age of 80 in Paris, leaving behind a significant artistic heritage and a significant contribution to surrealist and Cuban art.