La voluntad 2013

Editor: Here we have "La Voluntad," painted by Jose Higuera in 2013, employing both oil and acrylic. I’m immediately struck by how intimate and vulnerable the boy seems. What’s your take on this work? Curator: It’s a compelling piece when considering the artist's background and the prevailing social narratives of his time. Notice the bare feet, the simple clothing. How do you think this portrayal relates to societal representations of youth and innocence, or perhaps the lack thereof, in contemporary visual culture? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it in relation to contemporary society! The vulnerability, coupled with the title which translates to “The Will,” feels… almost like a commentary? Like he’s aware of the world around him? Curator: Exactly. Consider the composition. The figure is centered, almost monumental against the simplified backdrop. How does this contribute to the painting's narrative? Is it simply a portrait, or could it be interpreted as a statement on childhood experience? Editor: The centrality almost forces you to meet his gaze. It is a statement! I’m really curious about the shawl; it appears luxurious compared to the rest of his clothing. What’s that all about? Curator: Ah, an interesting observation. Is that, perhaps, not truly luxurious, but a suggestion of it through clever use of light and shadow, which comments on how we perceive social class? Or could it be something treasured that provides comfort and empowerment, playing with visual tropes related to children in paintings? How would you read it, if the artist presented the opposite image, presenting an ideal image of an empowered person? Editor: So interesting. It subverts expectations and, in that sense, perhaps invites a broader societal reflection on privilege, childhood and access. Thank you, I’m certainly viewing it with fresh eyes. Curator: Precisely. It is works like this that challenge the viewer, in their representation, to not simply admire a rendering, but to delve into a larger socio-historical understanding, or simply an awareness of the world around.