I kept putting it off. I have this nagging thought that Reina Sofia pales in comparison to Thyssen and Prado. That there isn’t much beyond Guernica. That in all likelihood, I probably wouldn’t even enjoy Guernica as I’m not crazy about abstracts, cubism nor surrealism.

 

 

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A visit drew an unexpected surprise. Salvador Dali. His “muchachas” paintings soon became my and my niece’s favorites. Somehow, I enjoy the mystery of seeing “backs”, thinking what the sitter is thinking…….. This comes as a big surprise to amateurish me. I mean, dummy that I am when it comes to art, I honestly thought Dali only delved in surrealism. Not my cup of tea. Seeing the muchachas paintings struck a chord in me. I’m sure my niece felt the same way too.

 

 

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How about you? What do you think are they thinking? Were the sitters pretty? Were the muchachas young, middle-aged or old? How about this painting of another remarkable artist — Balbuena’s Desnudo — in the same hall as Dali’s two muchachas.

 


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I spent so much more time in this hall. Longer than the time I spent viewing the Guernica where there is a thick crowd. Somehow, I feel many just visited to see the Guernica. Well…. It is really all a matter of preference. As for me, I have made up my mind. These 3 paintings rank high in my list.

 

 

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