Olga by Francisco Rodón (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Olga
Source: El Museo del Barrio
Among Puerto Rican portrait artists, few are better known than Francisco Rodón. Rodón was a major portraitist during the twentieth century. While many contemporary artists chose to focus on more rural, countryside scenes, Rodón’s art often portrayed members of high society, capturing the likenesses of Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges, Cuban dancer Alicia Alonso and Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, and Puerto Rico’s first democratically elected governor Luis Muñoz Marín. The painting I selected today—Olga—is a great example of his skill as a portraitist.

The piece depicts Puerto Rican artist Olga Albizu, who was famed for her pioneering abstract paintings. (I should clarify that I think the painting depicts Albizu. I attempted to research who the painting portrays, and I couldn’t find any details. However, I think it’s Albizu because it looks like her, and the two artists were contemporaries. In any case, if it doesn’t portray Albizu, that fact doesn’t substantially change my interpretation of the painting.)

Rodón’s style is extremely unique. He worked on the edges of many Modernist movements such as Realism and Expressionism, ultimately combining these styles to create a unique and startling style. Rodón work often feels hyperrealistic to me. His explorations of light and color create a vibrant and dazzling world that often feels too real to be true (if that makes any sense).

His portrait of Olga displays these characteristics in abundance. Her face is cast in strong shadow, highlighting the contours of her face, which is tilted upwards and away from the viewer. The piece conveys a strong sense of personality. The composition of the painting endows Olga with a sense of mystery. One feels that her mind is full of complex and fascinating thoughts. Yet, there is also a heavy shadow on the left side of the painting, introducing a level of darkness or maybe even menace. It is a deeply emotional painting, exploring a rich, psychological landscape.

The piece is a testament to Rodón’s skill, proof of his ability to craft a fully fledged human being out of paint and canvas.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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