#12043 Ramon Torres Mendez

The drawing presents a scene of rural life, centered around a woman riding atop a large bull. She is accompanied by a child who sits securely in her lap. The composition is framed within a landscape that suggests a journey or transit through a natural environment.
Here we see the woman dressed in what appears to be traditional attire – a wide-brimmed hat and a white, patterned blouse – indicating a connection to rural customs and possibly a specific regional identity. Her posture conveys a sense of confidence and familiarity with her mount; she holds the reins firmly while maintaining an upright position. The child’s presence reinforces themes of familial bonds and continuity within this lifestyle.
The bull itself is rendered with considerable detail, emphasizing its size and strength. It appears to be wading through shallow water, suggesting a deliberate route or perhaps a necessary passage across a stream. The surrounding vegetation – dense foliage on the right side and more sparse growth on the left – creates depth and establishes a sense of enclosure within the landscape.
The artist’s use of light and shadow contributes to the overall realism of the scene. Highlights accentuate the textures of the bulls hide, the woman’s clothing, and the leaves of the hat, while darker tones define the background foliage and create contrast. The color palette is dominated by earthy tones – browns, greens, and whites – further reinforcing the connection to a rural setting.
The inscription at the bottom, Mujer Campesina de Gacheta en Viaje, provides contextual information identifying the woman as a peasant from Gacheta on a journey. This suggests that the drawing might be intended as a documentary representation of local customs or traditions. The scene evokes notions of resilience, resourcefulness, and the close relationship between humans and animals in an agrarian society. It also hints at themes of travel, perhaps for trade or visiting family, within a specific geographical context.