▁the ▁Dist inction ▁of ▁National ▁Culture , ▁ 1 9 8 1 ; ▁the ▁Medal ▁Ale jo ▁Car pent ier , ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁and ▁the ▁Order ▁F éli x ▁V are la , ▁ 1 9 8 8 . ▁▁ ▁Ra úl ▁Martínez ▁had ▁his ▁first ▁exhibition ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁in ▁the ▁XX IX ▁Sal ón ▁de ▁P int ura ▁y ▁Esc ult ura ▁de ▁C ír culo ▁de ▁Bell as ▁Ar tes . ▁ ▁His ▁earlier ▁works ▁were ▁a ▁typ ification ▁of ▁Cub an ▁art ▁of ▁the ▁time : ▁the ▁outcome ▁of ▁a ▁play ▁with ▁expression ist ▁and ▁post - c ub ist ▁devices , ▁and ▁has ▁been ▁described ▁as ▁" comp et ent , ▁s tere ot yp ical , ▁and ▁forget table ". ▁▁ ▁The ▁artist ' s ▁more ▁notable ▁entrance ▁into ▁painting ▁was ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁when ▁he ▁started ▁his ▁abstract - expression ist ▁work , ▁leaving ▁the ▁group ▁Los ▁Once ▁to ▁purs ue ▁more ▁represent ational ▁work , ▁at ▁which ▁point ▁he ▁left ▁behind ▁any ▁traces ▁of ▁the ▁" st ere ot yp ical " ▁a for ement ioned . ▁ ▁The ▁revolution ▁and ▁his ▁work ▁ ▁The ▁revolution ▁had ▁not ▁influenced ▁the ▁work ▁of ▁Martínez ▁until ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁when ▁the ▁block ade ▁between ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁and ▁Cuba ▁occurred . ▁ ▁Even ▁then , ▁the ▁influence ▁of ▁the ▁revolution ▁did ▁not , ▁yet , ▁have ▁a ▁substantial ▁effect ▁on ▁the ▁body ▁of ▁work