Rural landscape with an old mill

Created in 2014 using oil paint on canvas-paper mounted on wood, this work captures the serene beauty and solidity of the rural landscape with a mature, sensitive realism. The combination of canvas on a wooden panel creates a unique, tactile texture that lends great visual depth to every brushstroke.

The composition is structured through a rich gradation of planes:

Foreground: A stretch of dry grass, featuring ochre and golden hues, catches the sunlight, highlighting the warmth of the natural setting.

Middle ground: An old rural structure—built of stone, tile, and masonry—emerges boldly, masterfully integrated into and partially concealed by lush vegetation. The artist employs a virtuoso color palette for the trees and shrubs, blending intense greens and lime tones with vibrant accents of red, orange, and yellow that suggest the changing seasons.

Background: To the left, the understated silhouette of a mountain rises in shades of earth, brown, and violet, set against the clear, luminous blue sky that gives the scene a sense of space and airiness.

The careful study of natural light falling on the architectural forms and foliage reflects the immediacy of plein air painting and Penya-Roja’s deep respect for the landscape tradition. In the bottom right corner, the signature "Penya-Roja" completes the work in a reddish tone that blends seamlessly with the shadow at the base.