Saint Teresa of Jesus 2010

Raúl Berzosa has painted Saint Teresa of Jesus, with what looks like oil on canvas. The image is a swirling mix of flesh tones, creams, and blacks, set against a golden, heavenly background. I imagine the painting came into being through layers of delicate brushstrokes, each one building up to create these soft, luminous figures. The artist must have been thinking about the weight of faith, of religious experience. Teresa’s face is turned upwards, eyes wide with devotion. Meanwhile, the figures of Christ and the angels are imbued with a gentle sadness. It's like Berzosa is trying to capture the ineffable, the feeling of being touched by something greater than oneself. The paint is thin, almost translucent in places, allowing the light to pass through, adding to the ethereal quality of the scene. This piece feels like a conversation with centuries of religious painting. It's a reminder that artists are always drawing on what came before, reinterpreting old stories in new ways.