Our Lady of Sorrows 

Marcos Zapata painted this image of Our Lady of Sorrows in the 18th century, using oil on canvas. The somber mood is enhanced by the dark pigments and carefully applied gilding. Oil paint, of course, allows for rich blending, a technique Zapata uses skillfully, especially in the Virgin's face. Look closely, and you can see how the paint seems almost translucent. This gives her an ethereal quality, despite the grim subject matter. Zapata also built up thin layers to create the sense of depth and shadow. The gilding around her halo and clothing isn't merely decorative. Its reflective quality emphasizes the spiritual nature of the figure. Think of the labor involved in preparing the canvas, mixing the paints from raw materials, and meticulously applying the gold leaf. In a way, all this work is a form of devotion in itself. Zapata's image invites us to think about how artistic skill, material choices, and social context combine to create meaning.