El Alma Del Ritmo (The Soul of Rhythm)

Music begins long before the first note is heard.

In El Alma del Ritmo, two women become completely immersed in the tradition of Puerto Rican Plena. One gives voice to the song while the other answers through the steady rhythm of the pandereta. Their closed eyes suggest that the music is no longer being performed—it is being felt.

Set against a luminous golden background, the painting celebrates the invisible connection between rhythm, memory, and cultural identity. It is a reminder that the soul of Plena lives not only in the instruments, but in the people who carry its traditions from one generation to the next.

This piece honors the enduring spirit of Puerto Rican music and the women whose voices and rhythms keep its heartbeat alive.

Medium: Original acrylic painting on cradled wood panel
Size: 24 × 30 × 1.5 inches