Cuban master painter, René Portocarrero (1912 – 1985), painted Gran Carnival No.  2 in 1984. The painting reflects Cuban-Caribbean culture, which is full of energy and taste for living. The colors are used freely and are full of emotional style that gives the effect of festive and joyful impression. There are flowers in black placed over a rich amount of colors. There is a blend of vivid colors—green, yellow, blue and red. The intensity and organic forms add to the painting’s expressiveness.

Portocarrero is considered one of the most outstanding Cuban painters of the 20th century. He belongs to the generation of the Cuban Avant Garde in the 1940’s along with artists Wilfredo Lam, Mario Carreno, Mariano Rodríguez, and others. This generation of artists valued national expression, which was done with vibrant colors and extravagant style. This painting is one of the artist’s last great works. 

In 1995, the Government of the Republic of Cuba presented the painting Gran Carnaval 2 to the United Nations on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations.