Latent Musical Spirit in José Manuel Broto

Abstract

This article analyses the relationship between the creative project of the plastic artist José Manuel Broto Gimeno (Zaragoza, 1949) and music. Through the study of different works which the painter titled with the names of famous musicians or musical terms, of works that include elements whose shapes echo those of musical objects, and different texts created by prestigious writers, historians and art critics, the conclusion is drawn that the relationship of the artist with music works in three ways. The first reveals that José Manuel Broto turns to music for its abstraction, for being the first form of artistic expression able to exist without having to pay homage and be faithful to reality. The second expresses the tendency of music to be organised in a mathematical structure and order, which confers on it the beauty of platonic undertones, a characteristic it shares with the works of the Zaragozan painter. Lastly, the third characteristic that compels Broto to take notice of music is its temporariness, its limitation by time. This is an attribute that the painter attempts to incorporate in his .compositions.