#10995 Rafael Zabaleta

The composition presents a woman seated at a table within what appears to be a balcony or veranda setting. The artist has arranged the scene with a deliberate flattening of perspective, creating a sense of immediacy and reducing spatial depth. A window, framed by green shutters and red vertical lines, dominates the left side of the canvas, offering a glimpse of a distant landscape rendered in broad strokes of blue and green. This backdrop is somewhat abstracted, suggesting more an emotional response to nature than a precise depiction.
The woman occupies the central position. Her gaze is directed towards the viewer, yet her expression remains ambiguous – neither overtly welcoming nor entirely detached. The artist has simplified her features, emphasizing large eyes that contribute to a sense of quiet introspection or perhaps melancholy. She wears a dark blue garment with a high collar, which further emphasizes the formality and stillness of her pose.
A vase filled with pink roses sits on the table before her, providing a focal point of color and organic form. The vase itself is rendered in cool tones, contrasting with the warmth of the flowers. A white tablecloth with intricate lace detailing covers the table, adding texture and visual interest to the foreground. A hanging lamp illuminates the scene from above, casting soft shadows and contributing to the overall mood of tranquility.
The color palette is dominated by blues, greens, reds, and pinks, applied in a manner that prioritizes emotional impact over realistic representation. The brushwork is loose and expressive, conveying a sense of spontaneity and vitality.
Subtly, the painting suggests themes of domesticity and contemplation. The balcony setting implies a space for respite and reflection, while the woman’s pose and expression hint at an internal world that remains largely inaccessible to the viewer. The roses may symbolize beauty or fleeting moments, adding another layer of complexity to the works meaning. The overall effect is one of quiet elegance tinged with a sense of underlying sadness or longing.