#10966 Rafael Zabaleta

The composition presents a landscape dominated by imposing mountains that rise abruptly from a valley floor. The artist employed a palette largely composed of earthy tones – ochres, browns, and muted greens – which contribute to a sense of aridness and ruggedness. A substantial structure, rendered in warm terracotta hues, occupies the middle ground; its walls appear formidable and enclose an undefined space. In front of this building lies a graveyard, populated with numerous crosses and other funerary markers scattered across a patch of sparse vegetation. Several tall, slender cypress trees punctuate the scene, their dark silhouettes providing vertical counterpoints to the horizontal expanse of the landscape and the structure’s walls.
The artists brushwork is loose and expressive, conveying a sense of immediacy and capturing the texture of the terrain. The mountains are rendered with broad strokes that suggest their scale and massiveness, while the building appears more precisely delineated, though still retaining a degree of roughness in its execution. Light seems to emanate from above, casting shadows that emphasize the contours of the landscape and adding depth to the composition.
Subtleties within the painting hint at themes beyond mere topographical representation. The juxtaposition of the monumental architecture with the graveyard suggests contemplation on mortality and the passage of time. The enclosed nature of the building raises questions about its purpose and the community it serves, while the desolate setting evokes a feeling of isolation or perhaps resilience in the face of harsh conditions. The deliberate placement of the cypress trees – traditional symbols of mourning and remembrance – further reinforces the painting’s somber undertones. Ultimately, the work seems to explore the relationship between humanity, nature, and the enduring presence of loss within a specific cultural context.