Mariano de la Paz Graells 2016

Alejandro Cabeza's oil on canvas portrait of Mariano de la Paz Graells features soft brushstrokes and a muted palette, giving it a kind of understated elegance. You can almost feel the artist coaxing the image out of the canvas, with each layer of paint adding depth and nuance. I can imagine Cabeza standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture not just the likeness of the man, but also something of his essence. What was he thinking as he mixed those fleshy tones, adding a dab of red here, a touch of green there, to bring the face to life? I can see the influence of Manet in the loose brushwork and focus on light and shadow, and also a nod to the old masters in the sober composition. Look how the subtle modelling around the eyes and mouth conveys a sense of quiet contemplation. It's like Cabeza is in conversation with all the painters who came before him. And that’s the thing about painting, right? It’s this ongoing dialogue across time, each artist adding their own voice to the mix. It's a conversation that's always open to new interpretations.