Orientalist Oil Painting – "El Mercader de Zapatillas" – After José Villegas Cordero – 60x50 cm

This magnificent oil painting on panel is a masterful interpretation of the famous work "El mercader de zapatillas" (1872) by the great Spanish master José Villegas Cordero.

Craftsmanship by Ángel Simarro

In this work, the Spanish artist Ángel Simarro has focused on the most introspective part of the original. We see a character in a moment of rest, enjoying a long pipe, surrounded by a wealth of artisanal textures. Simarro demonstrates here an exceptional talent for rendering various materials: from the gleam of copper plates to the soft fibers of the hand-knotted alfombras.

Light, Color and Texture

Technically speaking, this painting is a masterpiece. The light coming from the left creates an almost sculptural volume and deep shadows. The color palette is exuberant, with intense hues of red, gold, and emerald green that contrast beautifully with the warm earth tones of the surroundings. The alternation between minute details and thick, vibrant brushstrokes (like in the smoke of a pipe) gives the work a unique dynamic.

A refined piece for collectors of Orientalist art and classical realism.