Montserrat Caballé 2018

This portrait of Montserrat Caballé was painted by Alejandro Cabeza, and it feels like it came about quickly, in one sitting, perhaps with wet-on-wet oil paint. It makes me think about the unique challenges of portraiture. How do you capture a person's essence, their inner spirit, with just paint? Cabeza has used these rapid brushstrokes, especially in the face, to suggest a lively intelligence and warmth. The earthy colors, like the muted greens and browns, create a grounded, intimate atmosphere. I love how the brushstrokes around the mouth capture the expression of someone about to laugh or sing! Maybe Cabeza was thinking about Sargent, with his bravura brushwork, or maybe Velázquez and the weight of royal portraiture. Either way, it is a kind of visual conversation, across centuries, about what it means to be human, and to represent it with paint.