Toledo Cathedral 1998

Here we see Alejandro Cabeza’s “Toledo Cathedral,” a painting made with oil on canvas. I like how Cabeza fearlessly goes straight for the jugular with his colour, no messing! The thick impasto of the paint, especially in the foliage, is what grabs me. You can practically feel the weight of each brushstroke. Look at how the different greens and yellows mix together, creating a sense of lushness. You can almost smell the greenery! Then your eye moves over to the cathedral, rendered with softer tones, a stark contrast against the vibrancy of nature. It is as if the building is just an excuse for all that green. It reminds me a little of Van Gogh's landscapes, that same intensity and emotional charge through colour and brushwork. It’s this ongoing conversation between artists across time, each adding their own voice and interpretation to the world around them. It shows you there is always something new to say, something new to see.