Artist Isabel Muñoz has inaugurated PHotoEspaña 2026 with the exhibition Las piedras del cielo, a showcase of 35 works that combine engraving and photography to explore the Monastery of El Escorial. The free exhibition is located at the Galería de Colecciones Reales and will be open until September 6. For the public, it offers an enriching leisure opportunity at no cost, connecting history, nature, and art in a public space.
Behind the lens: the hybrid technique capturing stone 📸
Muñoz employs a technical process that integrates traditional copperplate engraving with high dynamic range digital photography. Copper plates, treated with acid, capture textures from the stonework of El Escorial, while images are captured with 50-megapixel CMOS sensors and then superimposed in post-production using depth mapping algorithms. The result is a series of 35 pieces that reveal the stone microstructure of the monastery, from the granite veins to the tool marks from the 16th century. The exhibition also includes 4K projections showing the natural erosion process, documented with time-lapse over the course of a year.
Free art: the perfect excuse not to spend a euro 💸
As expected, entry is free. Because, let's be honest, after paying rent and electricity, you never know if you can afford to see art. But here you have the chance to see 35 works about a monastery without having to sell a kidney. That said, prepare your neck: the 4K projections last 20 minutes and there are no seats. But hey, art hurts, and even more so when it's free.