Escaping Criticism (A Thing that Cannot Be or Boy Emerging from the Frame)
Oil on canvas, 75.7 x 61 cm, by Pere Borrell del Caso, 1874
Colección Banco de España, Madrid

One of Borrell's best-known works, Escaping Criticism challenges the viewer's perception of reality through the use of trompe l'oeil technique. Through adept artistic skill and cunning visual illusion, Borrell creates a mesmerising scene where a young artist is seen crawling out of the confines of his canvas, seemingly escaping the scrutiny of the critical eye. The painting serves as a metaphor for the artist's struggle to break free from the shackles of societal judgment and conventional norms, urging the audience to contemplate the fine line between creativity and conformity. Borrell's masterful manipulation of light and shadow draws the viewer into a surreal realm where imagination reigns supreme, inviting them to ponder the ephemeral nature of art and the boundless possibilities it offers for liberation from the constraints of reality.