Voces del Prado

Pictures that look at you

Carmen Garrido Pérez, Head of the Technical Office, 1982-2012

A picture by Velázquez never looks at you, it actually gazes beyond. I can look towards you and it may seem that I am looking at you, but I'm actually gazing beyond you. This is something common to all characters painted by Velázquez and also by El Greco. They don't look at you, it seems like they do but they are looking beyond you. It's also a matter of how capable you are of bearing their gaze. It's impressive, just as in many other paintings. If you are left alone with a painting or walk through the Museum at night, they're all there and you feel as though they'll get up and run out all of a sudden.