Angel or Devil? The Golden Enigma of Las Ramblas
If you walk down Las Ramblas often enough, you start to recognize the regulars. And this one is by far one of the most attractive—and popular—living statues on the entire street. It is a golden angel, showing off a set of impressive wings that you can spot from quite a distance away.
From afar, the figure seems purely majestic. But standing right in front of him (or her?), the vibe gets a little more complicated. All in all, the angel seems sweet and gentle, offering a frozen welcome to the tourists passing by.
A Closer Look at the Texture
However, if you take a close look at this portrait, you might not be so sure about which master this angel works for: God or the Devil. There is something about that texture—the way the gold paint cracks like dry earth or ancient bark—that gives the statue a wild, almost pagan look. The heavy "dreadlocks" framing the face add to that primal feeling.
And then there is the smile. It’s bright, sure, but look at the eyes. There is a spark there that could be benevolence, or it could be mischief. Click on the image to view the big format and tell me: what do you see? Is this a guardian of good or something a little more sinister? Maybe it represents some mythological being I am not aware of, but it definitely leaves you wondering.
