#23728 Juan Romero

The drawing presents a densely populated urban landscape rendered in black ink on paper. Here we observe a sprawling arrangement of buildings, seemingly stacked upon one another and clinging to a steep, undefined terrain. The artist has opted for a highly stylized approach; architectural details are reduced to essential lines and shapes, creating an effect of both familiarity and abstraction. Windows appear as repetitive rectangular forms, while roofs exhibit varied profiles – pointed gables, rounded domes, and flat planes – suggesting a diverse range of building types and ages.
The composition lacks a clear vanishing point or horizon line, contributing to a sense of disorientation and dreamlike quality. The buildings are not arranged in a logical grid; instead, they overlap and intertwine, creating a complex visual texture that obscures any discernible spatial depth. This deliberate flattening of perspective emphasizes the sheer volume and density of the urban environment.
A curvilinear form, resembling a river or perhaps an abstract boundary line, cuts across the lower portion of the drawing. It serves as a compositional anchor but also introduces an element of fluidity within the otherwise rigid geometry of the buildings. The signature 11 - Marzo - 1988 is located in the bottom right corner, providing a temporal marker for the works creation.
Subtly embedded within this visual density are hints of narrative potential. While no human figures are present, the arrangement of structures suggests a community – a place inhabited and lived in. The repetition of architectural motifs could be interpreted as symbolic of routine or conformity, while the overall sense of confinement might evoke feelings of claustrophobia or anonymity inherent to urban life. Alternatively, the drawing’s playful distortion and lack of realism may suggest a whimsical perspective on the built environment, celebrating its unique character rather than critiquing it. The absence of color further reinforces this focus on form and structure, directing attention solely to the interplay of lines and shapes.