Ramón Barnades i Fabregas (1909/15-1981) - Fishing boats in Sitges

1. TECHNICAL DATA Author: Ramón Barnadas Fàbregas Chronology: 20th century School: Catalan School Genre: Marine / urban-port landscape Theme: View of Sitges with fishing boats and religious architecture in the background Represented location: Sitges, Barcelona Technique: Oil Support: Canvas Measurements of the work without frame: 60 × 73 cm Total measurements with frame: 73 × 86 cm Orientation: Horizontal Signature: Signed in the lower left corner Location of the signature: Lower left corner Style: Catalan landscape painting with post-impressionist sensitivity, with special attention to Mediterranean light and color Color palette: Ochres, yellows, blues, greens, whites, earth tones and reddish hues Represented elements: Traditional boats, nets, fishermen, water, Sitges architecture and bright sky Composition: Port scene built around two main areas of interest: the boats in the foreground and the architectural profile of Sitges in the background Frame: Dark wooden frame included as a complement to the work Condition of the support: Canvas mounted on a wooden stretcher, visible on the back Condition of the pictorial surface: Generally well preserved, with brushwork and paint texture visible Overall condition: Good in relation to its chronology. The photographs are an integral part of the description 2. DESCRIPTION Interesting marine scene executed in oil on canvas by Ramón Barnadas Fàbregas, representing a view of Sitges with traditional boats and recognizable local architecture in the background. The composition is dominated by several fishing boats placed in the foreground, some covered by large nets that create significant vertical and diagonal masses. On the left sector unfolds the architectural profile of Sitges, with a church and its bell tower rising above the buildings near the water. The artist blends architecture, boats, fishermen and reflections in a balanced and luminous composition. The scene clearly conveys the maritime atmosphere of the Catalan coast, showing a direct relationship between fishing activity, urban landscape and the Mediterranean. 3. STYLISTIC AND COMPOSitional ANALYSIS The work presents an especially effective compositional structure. The large boats in the foreground occupy the right-hand sector and constitute the main visual focus. The raised nets create a powerful succession of diagonals and verticals that introduce rhythm and movement within a fundamentally serene scene. In contrast, the architectural profile on the left functions as a visual counterweight. The tower and bell tower provide verticality and enable a dialogue between architecture and boats. The water occupies a good part of the foreground and is treated through a succession of blue, green, ochre and yellow reflections. The brushstroke remains visible and adapts to the characteristics of each element. In the boats, the artist uses firmer, more defined strokes; in the water, brushstrokes fragment to represent reflections and movement; while in the sky softer transitions predominate. The chromatic range is warm and Mediterranean. The ochres of the architecture contrast with the blues of the sky and water, while reddish, green and white tones of the boats provide color accents that enliven the whole. The work is situated within a Catalan landscape painting tradition rooted in post-impressionism, where fidelity to the subject coexists with a free execution and a special sensitivity to light. 4. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ATMOSPHERIC DIMENSION The work conveys a sense of calm and everyday activity. The boats are not merely decorative elements, but integrated into a working environment. The presence of small human figures reinforces this everyday dimension and allows the port to be perceived as a lived space. The overall atmosphere is bright and tranquil. Open sky, water and reflections give breadth to the scene, while the architecture provides a stable and recognizable reference. There is a clear evocation of Mediterranean maritime life, away from any drama. The composition suggests a moment of pause within port activity, with the boats moored and nets spread out. 5. SIGNATURE AND AUTHENTICATION The work appears signed in the lower left corner. Ramón Barnadas Fàbregas developed his production within the Catalan figurative and landscape tradition of the 20th century. His painting is characterized by particular attention to the landscape, architecture, urban environments and scenes linked to the Mediterranean coast. This work fully coheres with that pictorial language. The marine theme, the luminous treatment of the water, the direct brushwork and the chromatic construction of the landscape allow it to be placed within his known production. The visible signature and the technical and stylistic coherence permit cataloging the work directly as a creation of Ramón Barnadas Fàbregas. 6. OTHER INTERESTING DATA Sitges has been one of the most important artistic enclaves on the Catalan coast since the late 19th century. Its architecture, its relationship with the sea and its fishing tradition made the town a recurring subject for many Catalan painters. The present work precisely captures this double identity. On one hand the monumental and urban profile of Sitges appears; on the other, the large traditional boats and fishermen represent its maritime dimension. The treatment of the nets is of particular interest. Besides their descriptive function, they act as graphic structures that divide the sky and generate a complex network of lines within the composition. The 60 × 73 cm scale provides the scene with considerable presence, allowing both the boats and the architectural background to develop expansively. With its frame, the piece reaches an overall size of approximately 73 × 86 cm. 7. SHIPPING AND CONDITIONS The work will be professionally packaged by Barcelona Art Gallery using materials of maximum protection. The packing will be carried out in a custom-made box with specific foam protections to ensure maximum safety during transport. We arrange national and international shipments through a professional company. In certain destinations, especially outside the European Union, there may be additional costs stemming from customs, taxes, documentation or export procedures, which will be borne by the buyer when applicable. When destination characteristics or packaging require reinforced protection there may be additional transportation or handling costs. The frame is offered free of charge as a complement to the work and is considered a gift. For this reason, the frame cannot be the subject of a complaint. The conservation status of the work and the frame can be seen in detail in the photographs, which are an integral part of the description.

Estimate:$784.14

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