ReflexoJosé Yalenti · 1950

Identification of the Artwork Reflexo

The gaze meets Reflexo, a work by the artist José Yalenti that captures a singular moment of abstraction. Created in 1950, this piece exists as a gelatin silver print, holding its form within a portrait orientation. The physical presence of the work measures 51.20 cm x 42.30 cm, a scale that invites a close, intimate inspection of its surfaces.

Within this frame, the interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of depth that feels almost liquid. The medium of the gelatin silver print allows for a nuanced range of tones, moving through a spectrum that suggests a subtle shift from green to violet. It is a quiet, structured existence that holds the viewer in a state of constant observation.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

The portrait format directs the eye upward, following the verticality of an abstracted modern building. This architectural structure, defined by a multitude of windows, loses its rigid geometry to the pull of distortion. The lines of the windows and walls bend and warp, transforming a solid edifice into something fluid and shifting. It is a study of how light and surface can betray the expected stability of steel and glass, turning a functional object into a dreamlike arrangement of shapes.

Deep shadows anchor the composition, creating a sense of heavy, immersive darkness that defines the contours of the scene. Within this interplay of light and shade, a subtle color spectrum emerges, moving through shades of green to violet. These hues dance across the surfaces, suggesting a world seen through a prism or a warped lens. The subject matter moves beyond simple documentation, focusing instead on the tension between the physical reality of the building and the distorted perception of its reflection.