#11487 Ricard Canals

The composition presents a landscape dominated by a densely populated settlement nestled within a mountainous terrain. The artist positioned the town on a plateau, its buildings clustered together and appearing almost monolithic against the backdrop of the hills. A prominent tower punctuates the skyline, serving as a visual anchor for the urban massing.
The palette is characterized by earthy tones – ochres, browns, and greens – which define the foreground vegetation and the contours of the land. These are juxtaposed with cooler blues and grays in the depiction of the distant mountains and sky. The application of paint appears deliberate; brushstrokes are visible and contribute to a textured surface that conveys a sense of solidity and permanence.
The landscape is not rendered naturalistically, but rather constructed from geometric forms. The hills appear as flattened planes, while the buildings are simplified into blocks. This approach lends an almost architectural quality to the scene, suggesting a focus on structure and form over realistic representation. Light plays a crucial role in shaping perception; it illuminates certain areas of the town, creating highlights that emphasize its presence, while leaving others in shadow, adding depth and complexity.
Subtly, there’s a sense of human imposition upon nature. The settlement seems to have been deliberately placed within this environment, suggesting a relationship between civilization and the natural world that is both integrated and assertive. The scale of the town relative to the mountains implies a quiet ambition – a desire for permanence and dominance within a vast landscape. The overall effect is one of restrained grandeur, conveying a feeling of timelessness and enduring presence.