Rafael Zabaleta

RAFAEL ZABALETA FUENTES (Quesada, Jaén, 1907-1960).
"Night of cats", 1958.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 100 x 81 cm; 124 x 105 cm (frame).
Work exhibited in:
- Madrid, Dirección General de Bellas Artes, Rafael Zabaleta, 1959, n. 14, illustrated in the catalog.
- Venice, XXX Biennale di Venezia, 1960.
- Madrid, Urbis Club, 1961, n. 6.
Work published in:
-AUTOMÓVIL CLUB BRITÁNICO. VV., R. Zabaleta , Madrid, 1961, illustrated.
-Juan Eduardo Cirlot, El arte del siglo XX, vol. II, illustrated p. 523.
-María Guzmán Pérez, Catalogación de la producción artística Zabaletiana , Granada, 1983, n. 420, pp. 721-722.
-María Guzmán Pérez, The painting of Rafael Zabaleta, Granada, 1983, p. 410.
-María Guzmán Pérez, Rafael Zabaleta. Catalographic study. Óleos y acuarelas , ed. Diputación de Jaén, 2010, n. 428, p. 388, not illustrated.
State of conservation: The painting is presented in good general condition, preserving intact its visual and chromatic power.

"Night of Cats" is one of only three known oil paintings by Zabaleta where cats are the absolute protagonists. In this composition, Zabaleta displays his technical mastery and his ability to reinterpret nature with a profoundly modern gaze. The three felines are grouped in a bold triangular arrangement, achieving a perfect balance that recalls the influence of Picasso, an unavoidable reference in his career.
The expressive force of the work is reflected in the cats' wild and penetrating eyes, in contrast with a vibrant and geometric nocturnal landscape that encapsulates the characteristic atmosphere of his native Quesada. The chromatic decomposition and the almost mathematical structuring of the background give the scene a unique dynamism, making it an essential piece in the artist's production.

This work stands out not only for its aesthetic quality, but also for its exhibition trajectory, having been selected for the prestigious Venice Biennale of 1960, a milestone in the career of any artist. Furthermore, its inclusion in multiple specialized publications and in Zabaleta's catalogs raisonné reinforces its position as a key work in his legacy.
"Noche de gatos" is not only an exceptional example of Zabaleta's creative genius, but also a testament to his ability to transcend the boundaries between the local and the universal, dialoguing with the international artistic currents of his time while maintaining a deep bond with his homeland.

Rafael Zabaleta, born in Quesada (Jaén) into a well-to-do family, is one of the great references of 20th century Spanish painting. Trained at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, he had as teachers figures such as Cecilio Pla and Ignacio Pinazo. In 1932 he participated in his first group exhibition, and three years later he traveled to Paris, where he studied the great contemporary masters.
After the Civil War, during which he made a remarkable series of drawings, Zabaleta overcame difficult times to definitively establish himself in the 1950s. In 1951 he held a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Madrid and, in 1955, he received the UNESCO Prize at the Hispano-American Biennial in Barcelona. During his career, he participated in important salons and exhibitions both in Spain and abroad, highlighting his connection with Paris and his friendship with artists such as Picasso.
Zabaleta developed a unique pictorial language, in which he combined avant-garde influences with a deep connection to his native Quesada, which he captured in landscapes and rural scenes full of expressive force. His work, recognized for its vibrant color and formal synthesis, is represented in important institutions such as the Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid), the Zabaleta-Miguel Hernández Museum (Quesada, dedicated to his legacy), and in prestigious international collections, such as those of the Museum of Modern Art in Paris and the National Museum of Modern Art in Mexico, among others.