Raphael Plus Stone Door

"Raphael Plus Stone Door"
100 x 70 cm, Acrylic on PVC, 2016

In this captivating work titled “Raphael Plus Stone Door,” the artist skillfully fuses disparate elements to create a modern take on classical iconography. The face of a young man with soft features, reminiscent of Italian Renaissance portraits, is framed by a rectangular window, evoking a painting within a painting. This mysterious gaze, at once distant and engaged, immediately draws the viewer in, plunging them into a contemplation of the nature of identity and perception.

A raised right hand, in a gesture that could symbolize both a blessing and a claim, seems to stop a beautiful butterfly in mid-flight, a metaphor perhaps for the free spirit or the fleeting beauty of youth. The left hand holds an invisible object, leaving an opening for interpretation, a play of light and shadow that contributes to the theatricality of the scene.

At the center of the composition, a stone door, carved into the figure's torso, reveals an empty space, a sort of secret passage leading to the unknown. This choice to incorporate architectural elements suggests an inner journey, an exploration of the mysteries hidden deep within ourselves. The red brick walls contrast with the softness of the skin and the fluidity of the red drape thrown over the left shoulder, a subtle echo of the habits of saints and sacred figures in religious art.

The background of the work, a deserted countryside under a twilight sky, reinforces the dreamlike atmosphere of the image, creating a tension between the serene stillness of the central figure and the constant movement of nature around her. The young man's gaze seems to defy infinity, inviting us to enter into a silent dialogue with him.

“Raphael Plus Stone Door” is a meditation on dualities: the spiritual and the physical, the inner and the outer, the past and the present. With this work, the artist reminds us that art history is a constantly open door, an invitation to rediscover and reinterpret ancient symbols in a contemporary light. A powerful and poetic piece, resonating with the promise of inner discovery and endless exploration.