Montserrat Caballé 2018

Alejandro Cabeza painted this portrait of Montserrat Caballé on canvas, and you can tell it was made through process. Look at how the brushstrokes build up to form her likeness. There's something lovely about the way the dark green of her dress contrasts with the warm hues of her face, which really glows. The textures in the painting add depth, don't they? See how the strokes around her shoulders are more loose and gestural than the controlled marks that create her smile? It's in the details of the eyes and mouth that we get a sense of the emotional essence of the artwork. It reminds me of some of Alice Neel's portraits, where the personality of the sitter shines through despite the imperfections of the paint, proving that art is really about capturing a moment. Ultimately, it is up to you, the viewer to bring this image to life through your own perspective.