Diego Velázquez, a leading figure of the Spanish Golden Age, painted "Las Meninas" in 1656. This enigmatic masterpiece, housed in the Prado Museum, provides a complex and innovative exploration of perspective, reality, and illusion. The central figure is Infanta Margarita Teresa, surrounded by her entourage, including Velázquez himself at his easel. The painting's sophisticated composition challenges the viewer to consider the relationships between artist, subject, and observer. Notably, the presence of King Philip IV and Queen Mariana in the mirror adds layers of meaning and self-referentiality. "Las Meninas" is celebrated for its masterful use of light and shadow, contributing profoundly to the evolution of narrative and technique in Western art.

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