#29461 Jesús Helguera Ausencia (1910-1971)

The painting presents a vertical composition dominated by four palm trees against a backdrop of a clear blue sky. The artist has arranged the palms in a slightly staggered formation, creating a sense of depth within the limited pictorial space. Each tree is rendered with considerable detail; the trunks are depicted as smooth and reddish-brown, tapering upwards, while the fronds display a layered texture achieved through subtle variations in green hues.
The sky occupies a significant portion of the canvas, its color transitioning from a lighter shade near the horizon to a deeper blue higher up. This gradation suggests atmospheric perspective, enhancing the illusion of distance. The framing border is composed of a light-colored wood with what appears to be a speckled or textured surface, which contrasts with the smooth application of paint within the central image area.
The overall effect evokes a sense of tranquility and warmth, characteristic of tropical landscapes. However, the stylized rendering of the palms – their almost uniform shape and placement – suggests a degree of artificiality, hinting at a constructed rather than purely natural scene. The precision in detailing the foliage alongside the simplified background could be interpreted as an exploration of representation itself, questioning the relationship between observation and artistic depiction.
The signature visible at the bottom right corner indicates authorship, but its presence also draws attention to the act of creation, subtly reminding the viewer that this is a constructed image rather than a direct window onto reality. The composition’s verticality reinforces a sense of grandeur and aspiration, while the limited palette contributes to a feeling of quiet contemplation.