(2023) by Colombian author Juan Cárdenas is a hybrid, hallucinatory novel that blends historical fiction, adventure, and philosophical essay. Set in mid-19th-century Colombia, it follows an English watercolorist navigating the young republic's turbulent landscapes and ideologies. Plot Summary
The story centers on , an English painter traveling with the Chorographic Commission in 1850. His official task is to document Colombia's natural and human resources to attract foreign investment. However, Price becomes consumed by a personal obsession: the hunt for José Rufino Pandiguando , a mysterious and elusive indigenous church painter whose technique and depth fascinate him. This pursuit transforms Price's journey from a scientific expedition into a "philosophical adventure" and a feverish path of learning. Structure and Narrative Style
The novel is famously "monstrous" and "insane" in its construction, divided into three distinct parts:
Peregrino transparente (Largo Recorrido, 183) (Spanish Edition)