An art analysis of “La gitana de la cántara de cobra” by Francisco Soria Aedo
The above painting is called the “La gitana de la cántara de cobre” literally translating from Spanish to “Gypsy women with cobra pot” commissioned and painted by Spanish artist Francisco Soria Aedo. Aedo lived from 1898–1965 and was mentored by acclaimed Spanish artist José María López Mezquita who also heavily influenced the style and techniques used by Aedo in some of his most notable art pieces. It is also important to note the environment Aedo grew up in, as he lived through both World Wars and the Spanish Civil War amongst growing communities of individuals trying to make the best of Spain’s economic situations and the mood of the nation at the time. Moreover, he grew up in a fundamentalist house with great exposure to different ethnicities. Aedo takes this as a means of expression in his works, choosing to paint different characters from a variety of ethnicities with different aspects of unique cultures adapted by Spaniards. In La gitana de la cántara de cobre Aedo chooses to depict presumed gypsy women. The woman is proportional to traditional composition situated to emphasize her as the subject at hand and positive space around her as complementary to her presence. A shaded and highlighted white covering is placed around some of the women’s hair draping down to her shoulders which adorn faded vertical lines of white on top of yellow. Her hands are placed lying on top of a brass coloured object presumed to be a pot. The women also appears to have a flower perched on the side of her face situated away from the focus and is covered by her dark shaded hair. The flower is full of shades of red in faded spiral patterns. In my personal understanding Aedo created this piece with the intention of symbolizing the women as a beacon of Spanish and ethnic pride. Not only do I take this from the way the woman is portrayed but also the context of gypsy history in Spain. Aedo shows her ethnic heritage directly in the title but in the style of her clothes and the objects hse holds. Such as the cobra pot. Cobra pots are commonly used to carry water and snakes alike, significant to gypsy culture as most ethnic groups of gypsies originate in Romania. Moreover, more culturally classified symbols like cobra pots are often attributed to certain ethnic groups. Moreover we can understand the significance of keeping culturally deemed clothing on the women instead of Spaniard style dresses worn in Victorian styles. THe clothes on the women are loose, bright and clash with different warm colors and have aspects of gypsy heritage (a loose scarf and layered loose clothes). Aedo then bridges the two cultures by placing a flower on the womens head. By my interpretation this flower seems to be a rose or a pink camellia. The significance and symbolism of roses in Spanish culture is diverse and special to señoritas (lady in most latin languages). Señorita is a term coined for refined or general women in Latin countries like in Spain. The symbolism behind the dainty flower is to display modest beauty, appreciation for Spanish homeland cultures (roses grow commonly in Italy and Spain) as well as the display of a feminine identity. As Aedo puts a great symbol of Spanish culture on a figure so obviously different from traditional Spaniards, he has displayed a show of ethnic diversity and pride. Pride once more is attuned when considering the facial expression Aedo chose to paint on the women. She appears light and happy with a curved smile, full rosy red cheeks, warm skin emphasized around her cheeks and her slightly arched eyebrows and eyes. The display of beauty is primarily focused within these two aspects of the eyes and the smile. As her bright smile seems to transform the painting as a whole and the message behind it. Predominantly why I chose this piece. I found the detail to the women’s expression mesmerizing . The simple show of pride, cultural bridging and identity put a smile on my face and made me fall in love with the proud gypsy-spanish women in front of me .