Self Portrait 

Author: Cordelia Urueta

Title: Self-Portrait (Autorretrato)

Creation Date: 1950

Materials/Techniques: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 25.6 × 29.9 inches

Location: Private collection

In this self-portrait from 1950, Cordelia Urueta presents herself in a mystical, almost otherworldly manner, surrounded by two enigmatic cats. Unlike her 1965 self-portrait, where she gazes outward with an intense, introspective stare, here Urueta’s face is softer, more ethereal, blending with the darkness that surrounds her. The wide, deep eyes, a hallmark of her spiritual explorations, seem to look both inward and beyond, capturing a moment of introspection.

The presence of the cats adds a layer of symbolism, reinforcing themes of spiritual, intuition, independence, and mystery, qualities that resonate with Urueta’s own journey as an artist deeply engaged with esoteric themes. Here, they almost appear as spiritual guardians or companions, enhancing the portrait’s mystical tone. Their eyes, half-shut yet piercing, mirror the artist’s own otherworldly gaze, suggesting a shared understanding or secret knowledge between them.

Urueta’s use of subdued, shadowed colors emphasizes the enigmatic quality of the scene, contrasting with her later self-portrait, where the lighter, more muted palette creates a contemplative but resolute atmosphere. This 1950 work, with its darker hues and haunting elements, reflects a different side of Urueta's spiritual exploration—a more enigmatic, perhaps even haunting connection to the unknown, as if she is enveloped by the shadows of her own psyche, accompanied by her feline counterparts in a realm that transcends ordinary reality.