Understanding Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’: A Baroque Masterpiece
“Las Meninas” by Velázquez:
1. Contextualization
The Baroque period of the seventeenth and early eighteenth century is characterized by the diversity of alternatives and aesthetic standards. Realism distinguishes aesthetic trends: the naturalist, the rhetorical and theatrical realism, and classicism. The Baroque represents the “golden age” of Spanish painting, with Velázquez as the most important and brilliant figure of this era.
2. Identification of the Work
“Las Meninas” is a painting in oils on canvas. Thematically, it is a collective court portrait. The central figure is the Infanta Margarita, who is accompanied by two “Meninas” and two clowns with a dog. In the background are two courtiers. At the bottom appears José Velázquez, chamberlain of the queen and a relative of the painter. Finally, on the right is Velázquez himself, who portrays himself in front of a large canvas. The atmosphere of the room is austere, with multiple tables.
Velázquez applied in this work a complex and peculiar iconographic treatment of “a box within a box” that led to multiple interpretations. Velázquez is portraying the kings, the portrait of the Infanta Margarita, and Las Meninas. He gives this picture a treatment reminiscent of a snapshot photo of an everyday scene of palace life.
3. Function or Meaning
The function or meaning of the painting is related to the propagandistic purpose of Baroque art, which holds interesting symbolic value. It recognizes the artist and considers painting as an intellectual activity. The idea of reality and deception creates an illusion of feeling.
4. Formal Analysis
1) Composition
- Different oppositions and conflicts create a clear and orderly composition without excess.
- Compositional structure: renunciation of symmetry, play of contrast, and sorting according to various compositional lines.
- Dominance of diagonal cross schemes.
- Velázquez horizontally divided the canvas into two parts: the bottom half contains the figures (foreground), while the top remains empty, creating a full vacuum.
- In vertical composition, there is an asymmetric balance with a vertical axis through the face of the princess, creating an imbalance between full and empty.
In this work, Velázquez also used the Baroque idea of the illusory and deceptive nature of reality: a mirror reflects aspects of external reality and looks at the viewer, creating a “box within a box” effect.
2) Treatment of the Human Figure
Velázquez represents figures with full fidelity, showcasing specific and individualized realism that captures both the ugly and the beautiful. The naturalism is balanced and serene, reflecting everyday reality. The expression of moods is conveyed without excess, capturing perfect qualities and textures.
3) Technical Resources
The color is applied with loose, free brushwork, creating a sketchy handling and impressionistic effect. Velázquez uses rich and vibrant colors, emphasizing the hegemony of light: clear, natural, and projecting soft shadows. Various light sources are shown in the painting: from the side window, the back door, and the mirror.
4) Dimensional Space
With beams of aerial perspective, forms blur as they become more remote, allowing for a perfect illusion of deep space. Linear perspective is established through a series of vanishing lines that converge at a vanishing point located at the chamberlain’s position (found at the bottom). Velázquez used the “opposed” technique, where the eyes of the figures are directed towards the viewer.