Found Cuban artist "Choco" Eduardo Roco Salazar - Painting? Woodblock? Collagraph?

There is an expression that I think applies here - "karma is a bitch"!
Earlier this week I found what I am sure is a Mughal painting, but most thought it was a print or print on canvas - then yesterday I found this piece:
I was able to find that this is by well known Cuban artist Eduardo Roco Salazar who is known as Choco, but I can't tell if it's a painting (less likely because signature is not sharp), a print, a woodblock, or I found some of his work that looks similar with the ridges on the paper called collagraph; could this be that?
(Looking up Choco I saw that almost all of his portrait type art are facing right while mine is facing left + a image search didn't turn up this one - which made me a little hopeful that this could be a painting?)

So now I come, humbly & with hat in hand, to ask for help with what I have?

It is also signed with a message to someone on the back.

Thank you for any help (and for all your help in the past with the stuff I find - Mark London, Any Jewelry, Roaring20s and rink28 especially - and always thanks to Debora!)

PS - Does the paper come with all the ridges on it & the artist paints on it, or is it added somehow by the artist?

 

For Consuelo with much love from Cuba.

 

The uniform tiny dot areas have got to be printed.

 

Looks legit to me.There are many forms of modern print making which use a variety of techniques on one plate (dot & silk screens ,monotype, ,intaglio,relief,etched-and one finished plate can combine 3 or 4 different techniques to create the finished piece).One critic said of Choco-'He utilizes a particular technique that he invented himself.'Collagraph,Seriagraph,etc.
The stuff I found listed was in the $300-$1000 range.
Good find-he is a bit of a modern Cuban art icon,i would've bought it in a heartbeat and hung it !

 

Looks right to me. Collagraph, a form of mixed media.

Debora

 

Knicknamed "Choco" apparently because of his child resemblance to the Cuban boxer Kid Chocolate (below.)

Debora

 

Great post Debora-looks like fun.As soon as We sell/dump all the stuff in our 'granny unit'-it'll be project time.

 

Thank you all! Did anyone else notice most of his prints/collagraph have the subject looking right, while mine is looking left? Noticed it while researching him & collagraph.

 

I don't think profile orientation is a problem. Here's a sig for comparison.

Debora

 

You don't think it's a Choco print? Or that he signed the back?

 

Good question. Apparently he is a print maker. And more likely given dedication. A collagraph will have raised surfaces. Does yours? And do think signature on back is his. (By way, you've a typo in your initial post. The artist's surname is "Roca" not "Roco.")

Debora

 

You can ask here. They held the first U.S. exhibition of his work in 1981.

http://centerforcubanstudies.org/contact-us/

Debora

 

I will.

 

check for those raised surfaces Journey-like on one of those plastic topographical maps w/raised ridges emulating mountains & valleys.

 

Can I just add that I think it’s absolutely great that you keep looking,searching and finding these interesting art pieces (pictures/paintings)

And yes,sometimes it might turn out not exactly what you were hoping for but that’s also fine (certainly happens to me a hell of a lot also) But you don’t give up and that’s key! Well done to that!

 

Thank you (hope springs eternal!)

 

The lines in the hair, face & lips are all ridges you can feel?

 

Thank you!

 

There's also a small "de" below that line and above his name. So the full inscription includes "from Choco/13."

Debora

 

you nailed it J