Velázquez y la invención: mimesis y anagnórisis entre Italia y España (c. 1618-1630)

Abstract

This paper aims to examine some examples of Diego Velázquez’s oeuvre that could be interpreted as genre violations. From a metapictorial point of view, his Sevillian bodegones will be elucidated neither as “pictures of everyday life” nor as polysemic, emblem-like images, but rather as mimetic “inventions”. Despite its significance for the young Velázquez, still life would decline as an independent genre in his maturity. Yet much of what he learnt from its practice re-emerged purified in his “fables” or “history paintings”. With all these works, Velázquez would surpass the concept of simple imitation to the extent of developing that of dissimulatio artis as the true end of his painting.

Keywords

• Diego Velázquez
• mimesis
• anagnorisis
• genre painting
• fables