Gondolas Jose Mateu San Hilario Royo (1945-)

The composition presents a scene seemingly set within a canal system, suggested by the presence of several gondola-like vessels. The artist has chosen to depict this environment through a highly expressive and abstracted lens. Rather than striving for photographic realism, the focus appears to be on conveying an atmosphere or feeling associated with the subject matter.
The color palette is dominated by muted tones – ochres, browns, creams, and touches of pink and purple – creating a hazy, dreamlike quality. These colors are applied in thick, visible brushstrokes, contributing to a sense of movement and energy across the canvas. The light source remains ambiguous; it does not cast distinct shadows or highlight specific areas, instead bathing the scene in an even, diffused glow that further enhances the ethereal mood.
The gondolas themselves are rendered as dark silhouettes against this luminous backdrop. Their forms are simplified, almost reduced to their essential shapes, and they appear to be floating within a swirling mass of color rather than navigating defined water. The lack of detail regarding the occupants of these vessels contributes to an overall sense of anonymity; they become less about individuals and more about symbols of transportation or perhaps even fleeting moments in time.
The upper portion of the painting introduces a band of darker, more densely applied pigment, suggesting a distant cityscape or architectural backdrop. This area is also treated with considerable abstraction, blurring the distinction between foreground and background. The effect is to create a sense of depth while simultaneously maintaining the overall atmospheric quality.
Subtly, theres an impression of melancholy or introspection conveyed through the subdued color scheme and the indistinct nature of the scene. It’s not a depiction of bustling activity but rather a quiet contemplation of a place and its traditions. The artist seems less interested in documenting a specific location than in capturing the emotional resonance associated with it – a feeling of nostalgia, perhaps, or a sense of timelessness.