Muros Biombos 1948

Here's "Muros Biombos," by Xul Solar, and it is like a cityscape rendered in warm muted tones, somewhere between ochre and faded rose. I can imagine Solar, lost in his studio, carefully applying washes of watercolor to construct these geometric, façade-like structures. These ambiguous walls and towers suggest both protection and enclosure; I'm immediately drawn to the repetition of brick patterns, each block meticulously painted. What do they conceal? I wonder if Solar was thinking about ancient ruins or maybe futuristic cities, these stark walls seem to have seen it all. The quiet, almost melancholic atmosphere speaks to me. I love how the subtle variations in color create a sense of depth and mystery, inviting contemplation on the nature of permanence. The formal geometry reminds me a little of some of the Italian metaphysical painters like De Chirico, but Xul Solar’s personal touch adds a layer of strange spirituality. We are all in conversation, borrowing and lending, influencing one another across time. Painting, in the end, is an exchange.