Untitled 

This is an untitled painting by Montserrat Gudiol, who worked in Spain throughout the late twentieth century. The artist employed traditional art materials: oil paint and likely charcoal or graphite for the underdrawing, on canvas. Here, Gudiol layers tones of grey and pale yellow to create a haunting, ethereal figure. See how the texture of the canvas remains visible through the paint, contributing to the figure's spectral appearance? The visible brushstrokes and blending create a sense of depth, with the figure seemingly emerging from the misty background. This delicate layering of material reflects Gudiol's engagement with both established fine art techniques and a broader understanding of craft. The work evokes both traditional portraiture and modern abstraction, complicating any easy distinction between the two. By attending to the artist's technique, we can better appreciate the ways in which she pushes the boundaries of established genres.