#45537 Cayetano De Arquer-Buigas

The painting presents a close-up portrait of a young boy, rendered in a style characterized by loose brushwork and a vibrant color palette. The background is dominated by ochre tones, which create a warm, enveloping atmosphere around the subject. Patches of blue are interspersed within this backdrop, adding visual complexity and preventing the composition from feeling overly homogenous.
The artist depicted the boy facing forward, his gaze directed towards the viewer with an expression that appears to be one of quiet contemplation or perhaps mild apprehension. His features are delicately rendered; the eyes are large and expressive, conveying a sense of vulnerability. The lips are subtly parted, suggesting a nascent smile or a held-back word. A profusion of dark, curly hair frames his face, adding volume and texture to the composition.
The boy’s clothing is suggested rather than precisely defined. One can discern the collar of a shirt, rendered in white with touches of blue, and what appears to be a dark jacket or coat. The application of paint here is particularly gestural, emphasizing the materiality of the medium and contributing to the overall impression of immediacy.
The artist’s signature, along with the year “80,” is visible in the lower right corner, executed in a fluid script that echoes the looseness of the brushwork throughout the painting.
Subtextually, the work seems to explore themes of childhood innocence and introspection. The boys direct gaze invites an emotional connection from the viewer, while his somewhat melancholic expression hints at deeper complexities beneath the surface. The use of warm colors creates a sense of intimacy, drawing the observer into the private world of the subject. The painting’s lack of specific contextual details allows for multiple interpretations, encouraging viewers to project their own experiences and emotions onto the image.