«Girl in blue»

oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023

private collection

In «Girl in blue» by Raffaele Beltramo (oil on canvas, 30x40, 2023), we are faced with a work that at once recalls the classical traditions of European portraiture and asserts itself as a fully contemporary expression. At the heart of the canvas lies a delicate, finely captured interplay of shades: the warm golden-brown tones of the skin intertwine with the transparent blue of the dress, reflecting light as if the figure were breathing living air. This work reminds us of the attention to chromatic nuance typical of the Flemish Renaissance masters, such as Jan van Eyck, where every subtle shift of color became a testament to the artist’s keen powers of observation.

 

Yet Beltramo’s portrait is free from academic rigidity: the girl’s smile, the lightness of her pose, and the simple yet eloquent detail of the flower in her hair create a sense of spontaneity, akin to what we encounter in Renoir. There is no contrived pose meant for grandeur; rather, there is a vital freshness that allows the viewer to perceive a direct connection with the subject’s inner world.

 

The modernity of this work emerges in the bold juxtaposition of a vibrant background with the softness of the figure. The architectural planes behind her, rendered in intense shades of red, yellow, and green, establish a rhythm and endow the composition with a contemporary decorative strength. This choice resonates with the explorations of twentieth-century modernists, who sought to balance figuration and abstraction.

 

Thus, «Girl in blue» is not merely the portrait of a specific sitter, but a meditation on the very nature of portrait art. Here, classical refinement in the treatment of color meets a modern vision of form, resulting in a work where past and present intertwine in harmony.