Tell me that I have been

José Aguiar, one of the most significant representatives of Canarian expressionism, was born in Cuba in 1895. As a child, he moved with his family to live in La Gomera (second-smallest island of Spain’s Canary Island chain). In 1935, he completed this portrait, which is considered one of the best images of the writer preserved by the University of Salamanca.

The figure of the author, contemplating Salamanca, stands out against a background of impasto brushwork. The emotion in his expression demonstrates the love he felt for the city. He lived there from 1891, when he was named professor of the illustrious university.

As if searching for the safety in its touch, his right hand keeps a firm hold on his book of poems The Christ of Velázquez. His left hand, however, rests serenely with the thumb in his jacket pocket, in a very characteristic pose of the writer.

The artist painted Unamuno's suit with more compact brush-strokes. His daily uniform was made up of a dark sweater, jacket, and pants. The white collar of his shirt always stood out; a detail which adds clarity and light to the face within the artwork.

Salamanca's skyline, with its impressive cathedrals, makes up the background. The Roman bridge, the River Tormes, and the houses along the riverbank are arranged in an expressionist puzzle. The palette mixes ocher and brown tones, resulting in a powerful blast of color with a profusion of different shades.

Sitting atop a gray-tone rock, Unamuno's posture transmits a sense of strength. The painter has placed him in front of a large cliff, opting for a contrast of colors between his suit and the spectrum of intense reds and oranges making up the rock.

The style and pigments within the work would seem to foretell the tumultuous times ahead. In 1936, the city would fall into hardship due to the outbreak of the Civil War. Heartbroken, Unamuno died on December 31, but his immortal character would remain forever tied to the beautiful city of Salamanca.