El Perro del Pintor 1915

José Garnelo painted this small portrait of a dog, likely his own, with oils on panel. There’s a lovely shorthand in Garnelo’s brushwork; he’s not getting bogged down in detail. The dog emerges through these dashes of warm color, a dialogue between light and shadow. I imagine Garnelo standing before his subject, coaxing out the dog's essence with each stroke, capturing its alert posture and sweet temperament. Look how the ochre and white of the dog's fur blend into the salmon pink of the sofa, creating a sense of warmth. Notice how the dog's gaze holds a soft, almost melancholic expression. The muted palette emphasizes the intimate connection between artist and canine companion. It reminds me of other painter’s dogs like Bonnard or Vuillard. There’s a certain generosity in the act of painting, don't you think? It’s a conversation across time, from one artist to another, a shared love of the seen world.