Dama Con Papagayo 1930

José Garnelo made this oil on canvas painting, Dama Con Papagayo, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, and you can see how he revels in the movement of the brushstrokes to describe a scene full of opulence. Up close, you can see how the colours blend wet-on-wet, especially in the drapery, creating a soft, hazy effect. The textures are rich, from the smooth skin of the figures to the ruffled feathers of the parrot and the glossy sheen of the fruit. The woman's peach is so delicately rendered, it looks almost edible. Notice how Garnelo uses light to create drama, with the figures emerging from a dark background, their forms sculpted by the subtle gradations of tone, and the whole scene flickering into life. Garnelo's treatment of light and colour reminds me of the Spanish master Joaquin Sorolla, who captured the shimmering effects of sunlight with similar virtuosity. It shows us that painting is not just about representation, but about the joy of seeing and the pleasure of making.