École andalouse (XIX-XX) - Dialogue andalou

Colorful and delicate genre scene created in gouache on paper, representative of the Spanish school of the late 19th century, particularly reflecting the taste for popular Andalusian aesthetics that flourished in romantic and post-romantic painting. The work depicts two women dressed in traditional Andalusian costumes — one leaning out of a balcony among flowering pots, the other handing her a letter — set in an idealized southern architecture scene, with a church in the background under a clear sky.

The technique of gouache, mastered with precision, allows for a velvety and saturated finish in color, especially visible in textile, floral, and architectural details. The meticulousness of the brushwork is balanced with a simple and effective composition, focused on the visual dialogue between the two figures, evoking theatrical scenes or period narrative illustrations.

This work is a clear example of Spanish pictorial costumbrismo, both in its theme and in the lively treatment of color, decorative detail, and the idealized representation of local traditions. Its style draws from academic illustration but also anticipates the popular chromaticism that would influence 20th-century graphic arts.

Signed in the lower right corner, this piece has been carefully preserved and presented, framed with a double gilded frame and a toned mat that enhances the chromatic richness of the scene.

It comes from a private collection.