Rafael Zabaleta

RAFAEL ZABALETA FUENTES (Quesada, Jaén, 1907-1960).
"Orchard and market gardeners", 1949.
Oil on canvas.
Work reproduced in the Catalogue Raisonné of Mª de Guzmán, p. 452-453.
Signed.
The work is in good condition, retaining its vibrant chromatism and the energy of his original brushstrokes.
Measurements: 65 x 81 cm: 78.5 x 95 cm (frame).

"Huerta y hortelanos" is a magnificent representation of the rural scenes that marked Rafael Zabaleta's stylistic development in the 1940s. This work reflects the artist's deep connection with his native land, Quesada, through a composition that combines traditional costumbrismo with a modern treatment of forms and color.
In this oil painting, Zabaleta portrays a group of peasants working in the orchard, surrounded by a vibrant and dynamic landscape that evokes the richness of Andalusian nature. The human figures, solid and expressive, are framed in a landscape that stands out for its chromatic intensity and geometric structure, with a clear influence of Cézanne and the avant-garde pictorial language that the artist assimilated during his travels and studies.
This work is an excellent example of the period in which Zabaleta began to consolidate his own style, fusing the Spanish rural tradition with the currents of modernity. Although it belongs to a moment prior to his definitive consecration in the 50's, "Huerta y hortelanos" already demonstrates the sensitivity and technical mastery that characterize the work of this painter.

Rafael Zabaleta, born in Quesada (Jaen) in a wealthy family, is one of the great references of the Spanish painting of the twentieth century. 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.