He was also an art critic, founding the "Revista de Bellas Artes" (1889–1890) and serving as secretary of the organizing committee of Chile's presentation at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. At this time he wrote the book "Les beaux arts au Chili". Grez's work culminated with his particular vision of the era and of "nortino" territory, "Viaje de destierro" (1893).