Hermitage of Sagunto 2014

Alejandro Cabeza’s Hermitage of Sagunto is a painting made with oil on board, though the date is not known. What strikes me first is Cabeza’s economical approach to the landscape – the color palette is muted and the brushwork feels intuitive. You can see the material reality of the painting so clearly; the weave of the board is visible beneath the strokes of paint. The way the light reflects off the surface adds a tactile dimension to the work. Look at the thick impasto of white paint which defines the hermitage. The gesture is bold, direct, and conveys a real sense of immediacy. It reminds me of Diebenkorn's early landscapes, where the California light is captured with a similarly reduced palette. Just like Cabeza, Diebenkorn invites us to contemplate the process of painting itself. These painters remind us that art is a conversation that unfolds across time. It's about seeing and feeling, questioning and exploring.