The Fountain 

Author: María Izquierdo

Name: The Fountain (La Fuente)

Date: 1940

Material: Gouache

Dimensions: 16.1 x 21.9 inches

Location: Unknown

The Fountain (La Fuente, 1940) by María Izquierdo is a delicate and intimate portrayal of a tranquil, almost mystical garden scene, where a young girl tends to flowers beside a fountain, surrounded by trees and a resting dog. Izquierdo's use of earthy tones, combined with the tender, soft forms of the flowers, creates an atmosphere of calm and introspection, inviting the viewer to step into a serene and timeless moment. The barren branches of the trees encircle the scene, suggesting an environment suspended between vibrancy and dormancy, a theme Izquierdo often explored as part of her fascination with the cycles of life and nature.

In The Fountain, the circular basin serves as a central element, symbolizing continuity, purity, and renewal, common spiritual motifs in Izquierdo’s work. The presence of the fountain, with its still water, mirrors the reflective quality of the scene, perhaps symbolizing an internal, contemplative space—a portal to an inner world untouched by the chaos of the outside. The girl’s quiet, focused action of tending the flowers resonates with a sense of care and devotion, suggesting a spiritual or ritualistic connection to the natural world around her.

Much like Izquierdo’s other works that depict sacred or symbolic spaces, The Fountain subtly evokes themes of innocence, nature’s cycles, and a mystical engagement with the environment. In a manner reminiscent of her earlier pieces exploring spirituality and ritual, Izquierdo transforms this simple garden scene into a meditation on the quiet, sacred moments of everyday life, capturing the viewer in an almost dreamlike reverie.