Las meninas - Essay Example

Quite clear in the portrait is a large room in the palace, canvas on the left-hand corner, the shadowing, and dimness within the room, several figures dressed in elegant attire, and various paintings hung in the background and on the sidewalls (Wallace Web). More so, the delicate harmony of the colors and the subtle brushwork are also evident. The portrait depicts an aesthetic and perfect artwork that negates the Spanish perception of art as a lowly craft. Additionally, due to its complexity and diverse composition, The Maids of Honor generates uncertain relationships and propagates questions on illusion and reality. Subject to these dynamics, the Maids of Honor attracted a lot of attention and analysis in the Western art history. Indeed, the portrait displays a diverse cast of characters. In the portrait, some figures are seemingly interacting while others look towards the audience out of the canvas Wallace Web). The young woman surrounded by two maids of honor is likely to be the young princess. We can see one of the maids of honor kneeling down next to the princess as she serves her with refreshments while the other interacts with other figures in the portrait. We can also see a chaperone and a bodyguard who derive a serious feeling probably to maintain order. Also in the portrait are two dwarfs and a dog who seemingly serve the purpose of entertainment (Wallace Web). Furthermore, directly behind the figures in the front part, we can identify Velázquez wearing courtly attire and working