Extremadura

As in Zurbaran’s painting, I describe a woman, using objects – but she is not the Holy Virgin (a pure vessel for God): she has left lipstick on a brandy glass, the silver tray is used for her restaurant bill and some coins. The receipt has hidden references to Francesco Zurbaran: his birthplace was Extremadura, and dates are disguised as prices. Zurbaran’s rose is borrowed, but not his austerity: his dark background is replaced with joyful gold.