Karmen

National Gallery of Arts, Albania

Year: 1962
Technique: Tempera
Dimensions: 55 × 65 cm
Artist: Agim Zajmi

This work is a painterly adaptation of the stage design for Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, created for the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It reflects Agim Zajmi’s deep connection to scenography and his ability to merge painting with theatrical space.

The composition features a stage setting structured around a central arch, opening onto the performers. An orange-toned sky contrasts with the white walls of typical houses, while vividly colored figures in gypsy-inspired costumes bring rhythm and movement to the scene. A standing soldier reinforces the dramatic tension.

Executed in tempera with very free and expressive brushstrokes, the painting conveys energy, spontaneity, and openness. The artist’s enjoyment of creation is evident in the lively gesture and dynamic composition. This expressive and vibrant work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Arts.