El Rastro (Madrid) 1972

Curator: Jesús Meneses del Barco painted this watercolor, El Rastro (Madrid), in 1972. The bustle is practically humming, isn’t it? Editor: It does! It's almost dizzying. I'm struck by how quickly the eye travels across the surface – it's this restless energy that truly defines it, right? Like a memory unfolding rather than a static scene. Curator: Exactly. Meneses wasn't interested in photographic precision; he sought to capture the feeling, the ephemeral spirit of this historical flea market. “El Rastro” is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Madrid. This market has been held for centuries every Sunday. Its roots stretching back to the Middle Ages as a place for bartering and trade. Editor: Thinking about how “El Rastro” translates to “the trail” in English really adds another layer to that idea of feeling. It's not just the bustling crowds now, but also the weight of history, a legacy worn into the cobblestones themselves. I am wondering about who these masses are and if they have real purchasing power in the 70s. Curator: Meneses's technique, that impressionistic style, perfectly serves his intention. Notice the loose brushstrokes, the way he suggests form and detail rather than defines them explicitly. It's like capturing light as much as capturing a place. It reminds me when Monet tried to grasp impression, he painted many scenes, and the only purpose of those paintings were catching the exact moment where the lights give a vibe. Editor: I love how you framed that; it shows Meneses’ profound attention to the vibrant interplay of light and shadows across the cityscape! But there are no female figures depicted and no children. I think those social segments do not exist to him. How come artists never ask women about that or kids and include them to this portrait? Curator: That's an interesting question. You're inviting us to see the historical construction through a sharp lens of feminist theory... The watercolor itself provides that dreamy essence that I really enjoy. Thanks! Editor: Thank you. This market now has richer and historical and theoretical implications.