OUT OF FRAME: VELÁZQUEZ AND HIS MYSTERY

“Velázquez and his secret” France 2025 90 minutes

Diego Velázquez — a painter of contradictions and a genius who was ahead of his era. On the one hand, a personal artist of the Spanish king, a courtesan and an official with impeccable manners, on the other - a man who could grasp the truth about the common man in a few strokes of a brush. A master of baroque splendor, who on his canvases was not afraid of... emptiness. The documentary film “Velázquez and his mystery” is a fascinating journey into the work of one of the most important artists in the history of art — a creator whose works continue to inspire generations to come. His influence ranges from Édouard Manet and Pablo Picasso, through Francis Bacon, to Salvador Dali, who made the famous mustache a tribute to his idol. The film's directors take viewers on an extraordinary journey to the world's most important museums — the Museé d'Orsay, the Prado and the Metropolitan Museum of Art — to discover the secrets of Velázquez's workshop and get an up-close look at his most important works. In the center of this story is the legendary canvas “Court Maidens”, which has aroused delight and consternation for centuries. What do we really see in the eyes of Infanta Margaret? Why did the painter portray himself in the royal scene? These are questions that continue to inspire researchers, philosophers and artists. “Velázquez and his mystery” is not only a story about art, but also about how painting can shape the way we see the world. The film features unique archival recordings in which Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon and Michel Foucault tell about Velázquez's fascination with others. Their voices, juxtaposed with the commentaries of contemporary curators, historians and conservators, create a portrait of a painter who remains an artist thoroughly contemporary.