The Kiss of Judas

Retascón employs a muted palette dominated by deep shadows, allowing the illuminated figures to emerge with striking clarity. The intricate rendering of fabrics, from the glossy pink robe to the textured red and brown garments, demonstrates a meticulous attention to detail. Facial expressions are finely modeled, conveying a range of emotions within the compact space.

Created in the early fifteenth century, the painting entered the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Mestre de Retascón is based on stylistic analysis and archival references linking the work to the artist’s known output during that period.

The work belongs to a tradition of devotional imagery that proliferated in the Iberian Peninsula during the late Gothic era. By focusing on the intimate act of betrayal rather than the subsequent arrest, the painting reflects contemporary theological interests in the human drama of Christ’s passion.