Style1½ inches thick (3.75 cm) Product Details Artist grade canvas, archival inks, wooden stretcher bars, and UVB protective coating
AvailablityUsually ships within five business days. Artistsolentiname CollectionSolentiname
Description Out of the wrinkled lips of Solentinames older citizens spills a warning to all mischievous and disobedient kidsBeware of El Viejo del Monte!Living in Solentiname, Rodolfo Arellano is from the first generation of painters. His subjects are the most diverse and he is painting the surrounding landscapes as well as legends of his childhood, scenes of daily life, nativities, and still life's. He was born in 1939 and has been painting since 1968. Together with his wife Elba Jimenez, also a first generation painter, they have founded a family studio with four generations of painters working together. His work has been exhibited in Europe, Japan and the United States. A Primitivist representation of El Viejo del Monte by Rodolfo Arellano.The legend of El Viejo del Monte (the old man of the forest) is one of the archipelagos most enduring folktales. No one is exactly sure around what time the story originated, but it has been told and retold for at least the past seven generations.The moral of the legend is a simple oneDont mess with nature.It is said that the character now known throughout the numerous islands of the Solentiname Archipelago as El Viejo del Monte, used to be a merciless hunter who practiced his aim by randomly killing all species of animals who stepped in his path. Without any respect for the life of the animal, El Viejo del Monte wouldn'tt even honor his prey by eating it; he just slew it and left it to rot.Partly to punish him and partly to teach him a lesson, the gods turned the man into a part man/part simian creature (sisimico) and made him keeper of Solentinames abundant wildlife. Now El Viejo del Monte protects the numerous species of birds, reptiles and mammals that live in Solentiname from poachers and irresponsible hunters. What he once disrespected and destroyed, he now protects just as viciously.Only after witnessing the splendor of Solentinames wildlife and beautiful landscape does the purpose of this legend truly ring clea