Los Morochos 1892

Arturo Michelena painted "Los Morochos" using traditional techniques of oil on canvas. It depicts twins resting together. The smooth surface of the canvas contrasts with the texture and volume created by the brushstrokes. Notice how Michelena used visible brushwork to depict the folds of the fabric, suggesting the softness and weight of the pillows. The artist employed the traditional medium of painting in a way that would have been familiar to a wide audience, but the subject matter is quite intimate. The twins are clearly from a privileged background, judging by their surroundings. Yet the painting also emphasizes the inherent vulnerability of babies, their dependence on the labor of others. It is this tension between private life and the wider world that gives the work its power. "Los Morochos" invites us to consider not only the subject matter but also the artist's skill in manipulating material to convey emotion and meaning, challenging the perceived separation between art and craft.