#23937 Juan Fernandez Bejar

The composition presents a figure rendered in a style reminiscent of historical portraiture, yet significantly altered and imbued with unsettling qualities. Here we see a child, dressed in elaborate period clothing – a stiff collar, ornate sleeves, and a large, dark hat adorned with floral detail – seated within a cardboard box. The box itself rests atop a smaller, similarly constructed cube, which is positioned on what appears to be a balustrade or architectural ledge. Above the figure floats another rectangular block, seemingly disconnected from the scenes spatial logic.
The color palette is dominated by muted pink and brown tones, contributing to an atmosphere of detachment and artificiality. The monochromatic scheme reinforces the sense that this is not a straightforward depiction of reality but rather a constructed scenario.
The child’s expression is notably impassive, bordering on vacant. This lack of emotional engagement contrasts sharply with the expected solemnity or dignity typically associated with portraits of children from similar historical periods. The gesture – a hand extended towards the viewer – is ambiguous; it could be interpreted as an offering, a plea, or simply a detached observation.
The use of cardboard boxes introduces a layer of incongruity and commentary on notions of containment and representation. The child’s confinement within this makeshift structure suggests themes of restriction, isolation, and perhaps even the commodification of identity. The floating block above further emphasizes this sense of artificiality and spatial distortion, disrupting any conventional perspective or narrative flow.
Subtly, the painting seems to question the conventions of portraiture itself. By placing a figure traditionally associated with status and lineage within such an unconventional setting and employing a flattened, almost graphic style, the artist undermines the authority and grandeur typically conveyed by historical portraits. The work invites contemplation on themes of identity, representation, and the constructed nature of perception.