Haes, Carlos de – Torrentera (Alsasua) Part 4 Prado Museum

The canvas presents a densely vegetated landscape dominated by a large, gnarled tree whose trunk occupies a significant portion of the left side of the composition. The foliage is rendered in varying shades of green, ranging from deep olive to lighter, almost yellowish tones, creating a sense of depth and volume within the canopy. Light filters through the leaves, dappling the ground below with patches of illumination.
Below the tree, a rocky terrain descends into what appears to be a stream or shallow body of water. The rocks are painted with an emphasis on texture; their surfaces are rough and uneven, indicated by thick impasto application of paint in muted browns, grays, and whites. Reflections shimmer faintly on the waters surface, suggesting movement and contributing to the overall atmosphere of tranquility.
The artist’s brushwork is loose and expressive throughout, prioritizing a sense of immediacy over precise detail. The lack of a clear horizon line contributes to an enclosed feeling, drawing the viewer’s attention inward toward the central elements of the scene.
Subtly, theres a suggestion of human absence; the landscape feels untouched, wild, and self-contained. This evokes a sense of solitude and perhaps even reverence for nature. The dense vegetation could be interpreted as symbolic of resilience or untamed power, while the rocky terrain hints at geological time scales far beyond human comprehension. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, inviting the viewer to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.