Tamayo, Rufino, tah MAH yoh, roo FEE noh (1899-1991), was an important Mexican painter. He became noted for his bold, brightly colored paintings of human figures, animals, and still lifes. Tamayo painted in a semiabstract style, in which he distorted forms to make them more expressive. His paintings reflect the influence of the folklore, history, and landscape of Mexico. But unlike other major Mexican artists of his day, Tamayo seldom emphasized nationalism or political ideology.