145 - English School. Early 20th century.

English School. Early 20th century. “Fishing Port.” Watercolor on paper. Signed and dated: “M. Pagsmi, 1909” in the lower right corner. Measurements: 24 x 55 cm; 55 x 85 cm (frame). Provenance: Family bequest of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. An art and heritage collection originating from the bequest of the Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a key figure in 19th-century Catalan realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched over successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original estates of both artists, along with new acquisitions made by their descendants. They maintained a special dedication to the preservation and restoration of the family legacy, acquiring works by the painters themselves as they came onto the market and progressively expanding the collection with paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other objects of artistic and historical interest. In the history of art, Romanticism stands out as the period when the theme of the sea and the coast was revived, particularly in its most tempestuous forms. German and English artists excelled in depicting stormy or solitary seas. In this case, the work we are presenting stands out for its play of light—characteristic of “plein air” painting—where the sun’s reflection on the water lends the work a warm atmosphere. The silhouette of the buildings in the background complements the boats in the foreground, creating a harmonious composition. In the 19th century, the art market expanded significantly, and genre painting—especially landscape painting—enjoyed great success among the bourgeoisie. The widespread adoption of “plein air” painting, meanwhile, led to promenades, beaches, and harbors filling with easel painters immortalizing seascapes.