Two seated women 1935

Rafael Zabaleta painted "Two Seated Women" on canvas, its date is unknown. The artwork shows two women with bulky figures set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a stormy sky. There is a strong emphasis on form and the use of simplified shapes, drawing the eye to the geometric volumes of their bodies. Zabaleta creates a composition where the figures are not just portraits but studies in form and mass. The rough texture of the paint adds to the earthy quality, grounding the figures in their environment. The artist seems to engage in a visual dialogue about representation and reality, exploring how much an image can be reduced yet still convey a sense of depth and emotion. The painting challenges our assumptions about the female form, moving away from classical ideals. The formal qualities—the colors, the shapes, the textures— work together to create a work that invites us to look beyond the surface and contemplate the deeper structures that give art meaning.