113 - 20th-Century School.

20th-Century School. “Harbor Scene.” Oil on canvas. Measurements: 65 x 50 cm; 88.5 x 74.5 cm (frame). Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. This work depicts a landscape under a cloudy sky. This urban area is the harbor, with sailboats anchored at the dock and small boats carrying people gliding across the calm waters. A column of smoke and several figures in the harbor are visible toward the right. This oil painting can be linked to the themes of seascapes rooted in the 19th-century tradition, as the painter’s interest in depicting the influence of light on various objects is very subtle here—perhaps too subtle to suggest a connection to earlier avant-garde movements such as Impressionism. While it would be inaccurate to describe the painting as academic in certain areas, it is true that it lacks the bold brushstrokes and characteristic colors typically employed by this avant-garde movement.