Seated boy 

Rafael Zabaleta sketched this 'Seated Boy' using delicate lines, creating a sense of openness and light. The composition focuses on the figure, yet the surrounding objects like the clock and table setting, add depth to the simple scene. Zabaleta's attention to line is striking. Each contour is carefully considered, defining forms and suggesting texture. You can see how the delicate lines create a semiotic system of signs by which we can interpret the image. Notice how the boy's clothes and hat are traditional, perhaps symbolic of rural Spanish culture. The clock in the background may represent the passing of time, or even an attempt to freeze a moment in time. The visual structure of the image, with its emphasis on line and simplified forms, challenges the illusion of depth and invites viewers to reflect on the semiotics of everyday life.