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In this delivery of artistic space, I bring you a little about the life of Diego Velazquez and one of the enigmas of his greatest works the Meninas.

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This Spanish painter was born in Seville in 1599 and is considered one of the most influential baroque painters in Spanish painting and master of universal painting.
He spent part of his life in Seville where he developed a naturalistic style and tenebrist lighting very influenced by the painter Caravaggio, at 24 he moved to Madrid where he was appointed as the painter of King Philip IV of Spain, and four years later he was promoted as a chamber painter.

To this work he dedicated the rest of his life, his fundamental work was to portray the royal family, and with it, he managed to have access to the collection of royal painting which he studied in detail and managed to captivate his imagination and ingenuity which gave him his characteristic style.

Velazquez painted approximately 130 works, it was not until 1880 when his recognition and fame flourished with the appearance of impressionist painters, Monet was very attracted by the work of Velazquez managing to influence him, who described him as the "painter of painters", "the greatest painter who has ever existed".

A large part of its collection is currently housed in the Museo del Prado.

The enigma of the Meninas

One of the posthumous works of this incredible painter is a painting that he painted before his death titled "Las Meninas" his famous painting which has been the object of study by countless art experts.

The work was completed in 1656, the royal title is the family of Philip IV but is popularly known as the Meninas. From its simple contemplation, it is shocking and one can have the certainty that it is not a normal painting, what happens in the scene? Does the girl stare at us? Who does the man in black who is at the end of the scene open the door to? These are some questions that arise in a few minutes.

The majority of the experts, denote something in common, that the painting works like an instantaneous photography or was conceived to the minor with that idea in spite of that invention was developed by at least 4 centuries later, this arose by noticing the movement are in movement, one of the Meninas turns slowly the head and immediately makes a bow and the boy that this side gives a kick to the canine that leaves the scene, Margarita that is the "protagonist" of the painting moves his eyes.

Let's take a look at these curious facts about the painting:

At the end of the room, where Felipe IV and his wife Mariana de Austria, margarita's parents, are reflected. This is something that no other painter did, to represent royalty through a tiny mirror, highly exalted characters at the time in a simple reflection of a mirror.

There is a version accepted by the critics that the kings have just entered the room and that is why Margarita directs her gaze towards them.

There are still more curiosities, for example, Who is Velázquez painting on this large canvas?
It is unlikely that Velázquez has been painting the monarchs because they have just entered the room, much less the Meninas because they are next to the painter and because of mere perspective one cannot paint someone in an unequal condition for the painter.

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Some questions arise as if by magic, will Velázquez be painting the public who observe the painting or the spectator?
And the only one who does not know the identity is the man who is opening the door.

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Many artists, even Picasso himself, who would like to lock himself in a room and not leave until he discovers that Velázquez wanted to tell us.

Much has been speculated about the symbolism in the position of the characters, about the meaning of each of the elements that are in the room, Velázquez painted himself giving himself so much prominence in the scene... One can try to extract political, scientific or philosophical messages, but it is complicated that we ever get into the painter's head and that we know what he wanted to convey with this wonderful painting.
And maybe that's better. It is the mystery that makes Las Meninas a work of art that stands out above the rest. Beyond the use of colors, technique or strokes, this is a good example of a painting that goes one step further and exploits the power of painting and art as a means of communication.

If you want to read my latest articles about art, click on these links:

➲ 🎨 Artistic Space #1 - History of Art: Pablo Picasso - Part 1/2

➲ 🎨 Artistic Space #1 - History of Art: Pablo Picasso - Part 2/2

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