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Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Miscellaneous / Spanish School (XX) - NO RESERVE - Infidelity
ESCUELA ESPAÑOLA SEGUNDA MITAD DEL SIGLO XX INFIDELITY - Great figurative composition of symbolic and narrative character - Oil on canvas - 81 × 100 cm - Delivered without frame • School: Spanish • Author: Anonymous • Proposed chronology: Second half of the 20th century • Title: Infidelity • Technique: Oil on canvas • Dimensions of the work: 81 × 100 cm • Signature: Not indicated • Back: Preserves handwritten inscription “Infidelity,” alongside other old notes partially legible • Frame: The work is delivered without a decorative frame [The work will be professionally measuredly packaged, with reinforced protection, double box, and insured shipping.] Striking interior composition, conceived as a symbolic scene with strong narrative content. The work represents a domestic space divided between two realities: in the foreground are clothing, personal objects, and an fallen photograph; in the background, behind a large architectural opening, an intimate scene unfolds featuring two figures. The inscription “Infidelity” on the back provides a direct key to reading. The painting does not present the theme from a literal approach, but rather through a staging filled with objects, curtains, shadows, and chromatic contrasts. 1. A SCENE OF DOUBLE GAZE The viewer contemplates the interior from an almost indiscreet position. The couple appears in the background, partially hidden by the arch, while the foreground gathers traces of an absence: abandoned clothes, a chair, a tilted photograph, and a seemingly empty room. This spatial division generates narrative tension. The back room suggests intimacy and secrecy; the foreground conveys abandonment, rupture, and emotional distance. 2. COLOR, ARCHITECTURE, AND THEATRICALITY The composition is built with flat, contrasted colors: intense yellows, deep blues, reds, blacks, and subdued greens. The large yellow curtain functions as a theatrical curtain, opening the view to the central scene. The architectural lines, steps, and geometric surfaces add depth and turn the painting into a kind of psychological stage. 3. SYMBOLISM AND CONTEXT The work sits within a figurative expressive and narrative tradition of Spanish painting in the second half of the 20th century. Beyond its sentimental reading, the composition can be understood as a reflection on intimacy, betrayal, gaze, and domestic space. The objects in the foreground are not mere accessories: they function as signs of a story that has happened out of sight. 4. CONDITION The work shows a general conservation consistent with its chronology. There is fine craquelure, slight surface irregularities, small nicks, and normal signs of age visible in the photographs. The composition maintains a clear reading, good chromatic balance, and a notably decorative presence. It is recommended to carefully review all images, which are an essential part of the description. 5. SHIPMENT The work is delivered without a frame and will be professionally packaged to measure, with reinforced protection, double box, and insured shipping. International shipping is performed from a specialized logistics center. Preparation and distribution are typically carried out within approximately three working days after payment confirmation. Any possible shipping surcharges for destinations with high-rate tariffs within the European Union, island territories, remote areas, or non-EU countries must be borne by the buyer.
Estimate:$682.66
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Estimate:
$682.66
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