Seated female nude and artist's self-portrait 

Rafael Zabaleta made this ink drawing called 'Seated female nude and artist's self-portrait', though the date of its making is, as yet, unknown. It's a stark composition that invites reflection on the artist's relationship to his subject and, perhaps, to himself. The female nude, rendered in bold lines and stark contrasts, sits prominently in the foreground while the artist's self-portrait hangs on the wall behind. The gaze of the nude drifts off to the left of the canvas as the artist gazes directly at us. Is Zabaleta, working in mid-twentieth century Spain, commenting on the male gaze and the power dynamics inherent in the act of artistic creation? The formal language of the composition, the location, and the absence of any historical record might offer some hints. Understanding this work requires delving into the visual culture of Francoist Spain, when artistic expression was often mediated through layers of social and political meaning. Further archival research may tell us more about the setting in which this striking image was made, and the Spanish cultural context to which it refers.