His Excellency is Not at Home ("No recibe in Excel.ª") 1807 - 1845

Editor: This is Leonardo Alenza's "His Excellency is Not at Home," also known as "No recibe in Excel.ª," made sometime between 1807 and 1845 using pen, ink, and pencil. The rendering of the figures, especially the central one, is so exaggerated that it almost feels grotesque, but there is an underlying critique. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a biting commentary on power and inaccessibility. Alenza, working in the context of early 19th-century Spain, utilizes caricature to expose the absurdity of bureaucracy and the self-importance of those in authority. The title itself, translating to "He is not receiving," becomes a declaration of social division. Who does this "excellency" refuse to see, and what systemic forces enable that refusal? Editor: So, the exaggeration is a deliberate tool to highlight social inequality? Curator: Precisely. Think about who is being denied access. Are they the poor, the marginalized, those without influence? Alenza's choice of medium—pen, ink, and pencil—suggests a kind of immediacy, perhaps a sketching of everyday realities and frustrations experienced at the hands of authorities. Does the artist invite our empathy toward the unheard figures lingering in the background? Editor: I hadn’t considered that aspect of immediacy so pointedly before. It makes the work feel even more like a direct, almost impulsive, response to injustice. It pushes the image from simple caricature into a realm of active social critique. Curator: Indeed. It bridges a historical moment of political turmoil with contemporary conversations around privilege, power dynamics, and who gets a seat at the table, both literally and figuratively. By understanding that link, we're challenged to acknowledge that systems of exclusion are ever changing, aren’t they? Editor: I see what you mean! Thanks. It adds layers of complexity that prompt ongoing conversation. Curator: My pleasure! And remember, artworks like this invite dialogue and the continued challenging of assumptions about who holds power.