Barrio Escalante, San José

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Corazón Rojo, by Alma Fernández Tercero. The first impact occurs in the inescapable frontality of the gaze.

Alma Fernández Tercero

Corazón RojoInquire about availability

Year
2018
Technique
Mixed Media
Dimensions
48 × 41 cm
Status
Inquire about availability
Palette
carmine red, golden ochre, carbon black, burnt earth, aged ivory
Brushwork
Soft blending in the flesh tones combined with dry charcoal scumbling, background scrapings, and linear graphic impastos.

Curatorial analysis

The first impact occurs in the inescapable frontality of the gaze. The figure stands before the viewer without concessions or evasion, commanding a magnetic calm where the stillness of her features contrasts with the chromatic vibration that crowns and sustains her.

The compositional structure is organized around a rigorous verticality. The axis descends from the exuberant crown of red roses nestled in the dark hair, travels down the bridge of the nose, the full lips, and the sober tension of the collarbone, culminating in the heart drawn upon the chest. This double anchor of red, concentrated above in stylized botanical forms and below in the symbolic organ, generates an affective and visual tension that balances the serenity of the face. The flowers, with their graphic line and nearly flat silhouette, act as a vegetal diadem or a votive attribute, while the heart appears to beat directly against the rough weave of the garment.

Two opposing material densities coexist on the surface. The treatment of the skin relies on a subtle gradation of glazes, warm sfumatos, and highlights that model the cheekbone and neck with an almost classical delicacy. By contrast, the surroundings and garments are built through dry gestures, granulated charcoal, and deliberate abrasion. The golden background, flecked with scrapes and dark smudges framing the scene like an eroding border, grants the portrait the aura of an ancient icon rescued from the passage of time.

The image triggers readings tied to dignity, heritage, and intimate sacredness. There are no narrative stridencies: the crown does not weigh down as a burden but is assumed as an affirmation of sovereignty, while the exposed heart proclaims a vulnerability that never borders on fragility. The entire weight of the representation rests on this unyielding presence, where strength and beauty discover their own center of gravity.

Corazón Rojo

More works by Alma Fernández Tercero

30 works

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View all 30 works by Alma Fernández Tercero

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