#12257 Rafael De Penagos

The composition presents a stylized female figure set against a vibrant orange backdrop that gradually darkens towards the lower portion of the frame. The woman is positioned centrally, her posture upright and resolute. She holds a long, slender staff or scepter in one hand, extending it forward with a gesture suggesting authority or direction. Her attire consists of a short-sleeved blue top paired with a white skirt, emphasizing a streamlined, almost geometric silhouette characteristic of Art Deco aesthetics. A bobbed hairstyle frames her face, contributing to the overall sense of modernity and sophistication.
The background is not merely decorative; it functions as an abstracted landscape, hinting at trees or foliage rendered in dark green tones. The text overlaying this backdrop includes a title – La Señorita Estatua – and numerical information (30 clms.) enclosed within a circular frame. Further textual elements identify the work as “La Novela de Hoy” by Cristobal De Castro. These inscriptions suggest that this is an advertisement or cover illustration for a novel, likely intended for contemporary consumption.
The figure’s pose and the symbolic nature of the staff invite interpretations beyond a simple portrait. The title itself, translating to The Miss Statue, implies a comparison between the woman and a sculpted monument – suggesting immobility, permanence, or perhaps an idealized representation of feminine virtue. The overall effect is one of controlled elegance and understated power, typical of early 20th-century design sensibilities. The limited color palette – orange, blue, white, and green – further reinforces this sense of order and refinement. The work appears to be a deliberate attempt to convey both sophistication and accessibility through its visual language.