Rafael Zabaleta

RAFAEL ZABALETA FUENTES (Quesada, Jaén, 1907 - 1960)
"Fauna of Cazorla", 1958.
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 130 x 97 cm; 152 x 117,5 cm (frame).
Work reproduced in the Catalogue Raisonné of Mª de Guzmán, pp. 384-385.
Presents labels on the back of various exhibitions.
Condition: The work is in good general condition, although the frame has minor damage.

This work, entitled "Fauna de Cazorla", is a masterful example of the unique and deeply personal style of Rafael Zabaleta, who is considered one of the great references of 20th century Spanish painting. In this oil painting, executed in 1958, Zabaleta captures with extraordinary visual force the natural and faunal richness of the Cazorla Natural Park, capturing both the biodiversity and the vibrant essence of the Andalusian landscape.
The painting highlights the precision and expressiveness of the animal figures, in which the penetrating gaze of the lynx or the balance of the mountain goat are presented as the protagonists of an environment animated by a luminous chromatic palette full of hallmarks. The treetops, which seem to radiate light in their circular forms, and the textures of the rocks, resolved with angular and broken strokes, reveal the profound influence of Cézanne in his search for formal synthesis.
Zabaleta manages to combine in this work two of the most representative facets of his artistic production: his interest in a post-cubist language, which here translates into a geometric and harmonic fragmentation of the landscape, and a sensitivity towards detail and the essence of the natural environment that connects him with the avant-garde legacy.
In addition, the painting has an important exhibition history, as attested by the labels on the back, including its participation in the exhibition "Pintura Española Siglo XX" organized by the Ministry of Culture in 1978 and presented at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, among other outstanding exhibitions in galleries such as Laieiana, Macarrón and Biosca.
"Fauna de Cazorla" is not only a piece of exceptional technical and artistic quality, but also a testimony of Zabaleta's deep bond with his native land and his ability to translate that connection into a universal and modern language. An essential jewel for collectors and lovers of 20th century Spanish art.

Born in Quesada (Jaén) into a wealthy family, Rafael Zabaleta 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.