Tour of the Volcano 1966

Fernando Botero painted “Tour of the Volcano” with oils, and in his signature style—with rounded, voluminous figures. I can imagine Botero in his studio, carefully layering the paint to create that smooth, almost porcelain-like finish, and the challenge of imbuing a sense of weightlessness. The figure feels monumental, yet light. She stands on what looks like a chain of mountains. The scale is playful, dreamlike. I am very interested in how Botero gets away with painting these voluptuous forms as if it’s no big deal. There is a sense of joy and celebration in the size and scale of his figures, but also a quiet sense of contemplation. The light in his paintings always seems soft, diffused, like the light of a hazy afternoon. It’s a style that is instantly recognizable. He's in conversation with masters like Diego Rivera, but he’s doing his own thing. That’s what it’s all about—artists in an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.