Human Ailments ("Achaques humanos") 1807 - 1845

Leonardo Alenza created this work, "Human Ailments," with pen and brown ink, giving it a stark and immediate quality. The composition, dominated by three figures, presents a scene of palpable tension and discomfort. The artist uses quick, expressive lines to build form and shadow, which creates a sense of unease. Alenza employs ink washes to deepen the emotional impact of the piece. The figures are rendered with a clear contrast between light and shadow. This enhances their psychological presence and points to the ailment alluded to in the artwork’s title. This contrast is especially apparent in the faces, where lines sketch out the emotions of each character. The setting is minimal, yet the arrangement and gestures invite us to consider the underlying social dynamics at play. The formal elements – line, light, and composition – work together to create a narrative of human vulnerability and perhaps, societal critique. Viewers are left to ponder the nature of these "human ailments," and how they continue to resonate across time.