88 - MANOLO HUGUÉ (Barcelona, 1872 – Caldes de Montbui, 1945).

MANOLO HUGUÉ (Barcelona, 1872 – Caldes de Montbui, 1945). “Danseurs,” 1929. Ink and watercolor on ruled paper. It bears a label on the reverse from Galerie Simon, Paris, dated 1929, identifying the artist, the title, and the number 10929. The paper shows stains and signs of wear consistent with its age. Measurements: 27 x 20 cm. This drawing belongs to Manolo Hugué’s mature period and is directly linked to the art dealer who played a decisive role in the international dissemination of his work. Galerie Simon had already exhibited his work in Paris during the 1920s, situating it within a context closely linked to the international avant-garde movements. During these years, his relationship with Kahnweiler proved fundamental to the artist’s European profile and to the joint promotion of his sculptures and works on paper. The scene depicts two intertwined figures in full motion. Using swift, concise, and confident lines, reinforced by light brown washes, Manolo constructs the bodies with an eye toward gesture, weight, and the articulation of volumes. This economy of means reveals the extent to which drawing functioned in his work as a natural extension of his sculptural sensibility, centered on mass, balance, and bodily expressiveness. Manolo Hugué was a key figure in Catalan sculpture during the first half of the 20th century and simultaneously developed a significant body of graphic work. His relationship with Kahnweiler was decisive for his international recognition: the dealer promoted his work in France and abroad and continued to support him even after their business relationship ended. His work is extensively represented at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, which also holds drawings by the artist, and at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.