Golden Oriole

Golden Oriole, 2026

40 × 30 cm (frame)

26.2 × 19.2 cm (painting)

framed, matted, signed

The Golden Oriole, a bird of warm regions and radiant light, represents lightness, movement, and the presence of life. The olive branch carries the symbol of peace, while the holm oak (encina)—a tree typical of the Andalusian mountains—alludes to strength, resilience, and the dry, stony soil.

The tangerine and the fig are fruits of abundance and the sensuality of the South—evoking sweetness, sun, and the slow rhythm of life. A traditional ceramic tile from Southern Spain introduces human order, ornament, and a tribute to craftsmanship into the painting.

Through its colors and motifs, the overall mood of the work seeks to reference the Sierra Nevada range—a place where high peaks meet the Southern light.

The painting evolved from an original piece that served as a book cover set in the landscape of Southern Spain, specifically the Alpujarras region in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Over time, however, the work began to detach itself, grow, and acquire its own visual language—eventually culminating in this freer, richer composition. D. B.