Domingo Alvarez Gomez (1942) - Cerca de ti

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork by Domingo Álvarez, which depicts the intimate embrace of two people as a universal symbol of love, comfort, protection, and mutual trust. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 61.5 x 43.5 x 2 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 48 x 30 cm.
· Hand-signed pastel by the artist at the bottom right, Domingo.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a beautiful frame and protective glass (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description.

The painting will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents the intimate and silent embrace of two human figures who appear joined in the center of a composition dominated by dark, soft, and deeply enveloping tones. The bodies are shown from behind and remain closely linked, to the point where their shapes seem to merge into a single presence. The faces are completely hidden, which prevents identifying the protagonists and makes the gesture a universal image of affection, consolation, and protection. A large pale cloth surrounds the lower part of both bodies and reinforces the sense of refuge conveyed by the scene.

The figure on the left occupies the central space and shows the back almost entirely. Its head tilts toward the person who embraces, allowing dark hair to fall softly over the nape and shoulder. This tilt conveys trust and surrender, as if seeking rest in the proximity of the other body. The lack of tension in the posture makes the embrace sincere, calm, and prolonged.

The hair of this figure forms a dark mass that partially blends with the background. Some strands receive grayish and brown reflections, while others remain completely submerged in shadow. Its irregular fall adds naturalness and movement. By hiding the face, the hair increases the mystery and focuses attention on body language.

The back becomes one of the main visual axes of the work. From the base of the neck a central line descends, delicately marking the spine and organizing the anatomy. The shoulders, shoulder blades, and waist appear suggested through a gradual blend of clarity and shadow. The body is not presented as a rigid form, but as a living surface that responds to the embrace gesture.

The left shoulder is slightly lower, while the right rises due to the proximity of the other body. This asymmetry introduces dynamism and allows us to perceive the soft pressure of the encounter. The variations of light on the back help to understand how both figures settle against each other. Each curve seems determined by the need to come closer and to support one another.

The waist narrows in the central area and gives way to the curve of the hip, partially covered by the pale cloth. This transition creates a sinuous line that guides the gaze from the shoulders to the lower part. The figure appears to lean slightly forward, reinforcing contact with the embraced person. Its posture expresses vulnerability, but also complete confidence in the one who holds.

The second figure appears on the right and is partially hidden. Its back is more vertical and shows a bright line that descends from the shoulder to the waist. Although fewer details of its body are visible, its presence is essential, as it constitutes the support and refuge of the central figure. Both silhouettes complement each other and form a compact structure.

The right shoulder of this second figure rises and forms a wide curve that leads toward the hidden head. The light concentrates on its upper part and highlights the volume before descending along the arm. The face remains completely hidden behind the other person, which intensifies the sense of privacy. The viewer witnesses the embrace but cannot access the identity or thoughts of those involved.

One of the hands constitutes a detail of enormous emotional power. It appears resting on the upper back near the shoulder of the central figure, with fingers extended and slightly separated. The gesture is gentle, yet firm, conveying the will to hold, protect, and not let go. The hand functions as a visible expression of what the hidden faces cannot communicate.

The fingers follow the curve of the shoulder and seem to exert a delicate pressure. The luminosity that runs through them allows them to be distinguished clearly against the dark hair and shaded skin. This contrast makes the hand one of the most expressive points of the composition. Its position can be interpreted as a caress, a search for security, or a gesture of consolation.

The absence of faces gives the scene a great universality. The figures could represent a couple, two people reuniting, relatives comforting each other, or loved ones saying goodbye. By not showing facial expressions, the emotion is built solely through proximity, posture, and contact. This lack of definition allows each viewer to project their own memories onto the embrace.

The bodies are not rigidly facing each other but slightly offset and adapted to one another. This arrangement creates a sense of organic unity. The lines of the shoulders, backs, and arms converge to become difficult to separate at some points. The embrace seems to momentarily erase individual boundaries and build a shared space.

The lighting is subdued and concentrates mainly on the backs and the visible hand. Ivory, beige, gold, and gray tones prevail, accompanied by brown and violet shadows. The light does not flood the entire scene but emerges selectively, revealing only what is needed to understand the gesture. This choice enhances intimacy and makes the embrace seem sheltered by the shadows.

On the back of the central figure, there are small bright areas distributed over the shoulders and shoulder blades. The clarity becomes softer as it descends toward the waist, where it blends with greenish and ocher tones. On the second body, the light forms a more intense vertical band that helps differentiate the two figures. These subtle changes add depth without breaking the unity of the whole.

Shadows play an essential role. They surround the heads, hide the faces, and envelop the sides of the composition, creating a sense of isolation from the outside world. The darkness does not seem threatening but protective, like a quiet room or a night in which the embrace becomes the only refuge. The background eliminates any distraction and concentrates all emotion on the bodies.

The pale cloth covering the lower part occupies a considerable area and has a broad, irregular fall. Its whites, grays, blues, and greens contrast with the warmth of the skin and the depth of the background. The edge rises around the hips, enveloping the two figures within a single space. Its presence reinforces the idea of shared intimacy.

The folds of the cloth form soft lines that extend toward the sides and the lower area. Some parts receive greater clarity, while others blur with the shadows. The cloth can recall a sheet, a blanket, or a wide drape placed around the bodies. Beyond its material function, it acts as a symbolic wrapping that protects and unites.

The overall color of the work is restrained and sober. Browns, grays, blacks, and muted greens create an atmosphere of deep calm, while the warm tones of the skin introduce humanity. There are no bright colors that disrupt the emotional focus. Everything seems constructed to convey silence, closeness, and an intensity that does not require dramatic gestures.

The vertical composition emphasizes the presence of the figures and allows the embrace to occupy almost all available space. The heads are positioned at the top, joining within a large dark mass, while the backs descend in parallel toward the cloth. This arrangement creates a sense of stability. The bodies function as two flexible columns that support each other.

Curved lines dominate the entire scene. They appear on the shoulders, arms, backs, hips, and folds of the cloth. There are no abrupt interruptions or angular shapes that break the harmony. This visual continuity accompanies the emotional meaning of the embrace and makes the composition fluid and enveloping.

The contact between the two figures can be interpreted as a representation of love, though not necessarily of a romantic nature. The embrace is one of the most universal human gestures and can express joy, gratitude, protection, forgiveness, farewell, or consolation. The work keeps all these possibilities open. Its strength lies precisely in not explaining what happened before or what will happen next.

It can also be understood as an image of refuge in the face of loneliness. The dark background suggests an uncertain outer world, while the unity of the bodies creates a bright and safe space. The figures seem to find in the presence of the other what does not exist around them. The embrace thus becomes a form of resistance against fear, loss, or fragility.

The hand resting on the shoulder conveys the need to preserve that moment. Its open fingers seem to affirm the presence of the other person and confirm that the contact is real. This small gesture conveys enormous emotional intensity. It can be read as a silent promise of accompaniment and permanence.

The central figure, by tilting its head and showing its back, expresses absolute surrender. There is no gaze toward the viewer nor any apparent self-awareness of being observed. All attention is directed toward the embraced person. This attitude transforms the scene into a deeply private moment and grants the viewer the role of silent witness.

The second figure, more hidden, can be perceived as a protective presence. Its vertical posture and the placement of the hand convey stability. However, the fact that it also hides its face suggests that both people need the embrace equally. There is no entirely strong person and entirely vulnerable other, but mutual dependence based on affection.

The painting invites recalling moments when words fall short. In certain situations, an embrace can communicate more than any explanation, as it allows sharing an emotion without naming it. The figures seem to have found exactly that silent language. Their closeness expresses understanding and acceptance.

The scene possesses a contained beauty that arises from simplicity. There are no objects, landscapes, or narrative elements that explain the relationship between the characters. Only the bodies, the hand, the light, and the cloth remain. This reduction makes the emotion appear directly and universally.

Overall, this painting represents the deep embrace of two figures who find refuge, consolation, and security in their mutual closeness. The joined backs, hidden faces, the hand resting on the shoulder, and the pale cloth wrapping the bodies build an intimate and profoundly moving image. The darkness of the background isolates the protagonists from the outside world, while the soft light reveals the warmth of their union. The work turns a daily gesture into a universal symbol of love, protection, trust, and the human need to feel accompanied.