The camp gate 

Rafael Zabaleta painted ‘The camp gate’ with oil on canvas. The painting depicts a man with a tool in a field and various objects inside a house: a table, a bottle, a lamp, a curtain, and a dresser. Zabaleta was interested in capturing everyday life, so he used oil, a readily available medium, to depict a humble, quotidian scene. The thick paint, applied with visible brushstrokes, gives a sense of weight and texture, reflecting the ruggedness of the Spanish landscape. The material directly reflects the subjects of the artwork. The heavy brushstrokes and earthy tones evoke the arid fields, the rough labor of the farmer, and the humble furnishings of the home. In this artwork, Zabaleta elevates the everyday, transforming it into a scene of dignity and beauty. He reminds us that even the most ordinary materials and scenes can become extraordinary when seen through the eyes of an artist. By focusing on the process and the context, we gain a deeper understanding of the painting's meaning and its connection to the world around us.