#45196 Arturo Souto

The composition presents a densely layered and unsettling visual experience. Dominating the foreground is a stylized equine head, rendered in earthy tones of brown and ochre. The animals features are distorted; its eyes are disproportionately large and intensely focused, conveying an unnerving sense of scrutiny or surveillance. These prominent eyes immediately draw attention and contribute to the overall feeling of unease.
Above this central figure, a chaotic assemblage of forms rises, creating a complex superstructure. Architectural elements – suggesting buildings or institutional structures – are interspersed with organic shapes resembling wings or fins. The arrangement is deliberately disjointed, lacking any clear spatial logic. A fragmented TIE appears within the architectural mass, its meaning ambiguous and potentially symbolic of constraint or identification.
The color palette is restricted to warm browns, yellows, and oranges, contrasted against a dark background that intensifies the sense of confinement. The limited range contributes to a claustrophobic atmosphere. Brushstrokes are visible, adding texture and emphasizing the artists hand in constructing this unsettling scene.
At the top of the image, above the chaotic assemblage, is bold lettering reading MANICOMIO, which immediately establishes a thematic context related to mental institutions or asylums. Below the equine head, smaller text identifies the author and illustrator.
The subtexts within this work are multifaceted. The distorted animal head could represent the dehumanization of individuals within institutional settings, while the watchful eyes suggest constant observation and control. The fragmented architecture implies a breakdown of order and rationality. The overall effect is one of psychological distress, confinement, and perhaps even critique of societal structures that marginalize or pathologize mental illness. The work seems to explore themes of surveillance, identity, and the fragility of the human psyche within an environment designed for containment.