Much better known abroad than in Colombia, the work of Juan Cárdenas is not only a lesson in good painting and knowledge of the craft but an infinite display of intuition — poetic and pictorial — capable of giving meaning and life to the magnificent adventure that each of his paintings represents. An adventure that unfolds as we delve into those peculiar, mysterious, and enigmatic environments that absorb us irresistibly. Although this book does not strictly adhere to the chronological evolution of Juan Cárdenas, it does attempt to describe, through the sequence of his images, the different settings of his production, the facets of that unique and complex universe that the painter presents with deceptive simplicity. In this journey, the reader should also find other paths to penetrate the fertile universe of Juan Cárdenas, discover his parallel realities, his possibilities of unfolding, his subtle references to universal art, and his extraordinary sense of humor.