#07 Jose Mateu San Hilario Royo (1945-)

The painting presents a dynamic composition dominated by swirling forms and a restricted palette. A figure, seemingly human in shape but rendered with considerable abstraction, occupies the lower portion of the canvas. The artist depicted this individual in a posture suggesting distress or collapse; the body is contorted, limbs intertwined, and the head bowed downwards. Warm tones – ochre, rust, and hints of crimson – are employed to delineate the figure, creating a sense of internal heat or suffering.
Above the figure, a mass of agitated forms rises, appearing almost like a turbulent cloud or a chaotic accumulation of drapery. These shapes are executed in cooler hues: predominantly greens, grays, and whites, applied with thick impasto that emphasizes their textural complexity. The brushwork here is particularly vigorous, conveying movement and instability.
The background is largely obscured by the dense application of paint, contributing to an overall feeling of confinement or oppression. A dark band at the bottom provides a stark contrast to the lighter tones above, further isolating the figure within the composition.
Subtextually, the work seems to explore themes of struggle and vulnerability. The contorted posture of the central figure suggests emotional turmoil or physical hardship. The swirling forms above could be interpreted as representing external forces – perhaps societal pressures, psychological burdens, or even a sense of impending doom – bearing down upon the individual. The limited color range reinforces this atmosphere of melancholy and constraint. While the abstraction prevents a literal narrative from emerging, the painting evokes a powerful emotional response through its expressive brushwork and symbolic arrangement of forms.