186 - JOSEP SIMONT I GUILLÉN (Barcelona, 1875 – Caracas, 1968).

JOSEP SIMONT I GUILLÉN (Barcelona, 1875 – Caracas, 1968). "Young Man," 1907. Charcoal and crayon on paper. Dated in the lower right margin. Monogram in the lower left margin. In good condition. Shows slight oxidation and stains consistent with its age. Measurements: 27 × 32 cm; 63 × 63 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. The precision of the drawing and the attention paid to the expression place this work within the strong portraiture tradition of Josep Simont, one of the Catalan draftsmen of his generation with the greatest international renown. The face is the most finely defined element, rendered through delicate charcoal shading, while the hair, clothing, and background are executed with a progressively freer style. Highlights introduce luminosity and enhance the sense of volume against the warm tone of the paper. Josep Simont i Guillén trained in Barcelona and, from a young age, contributed to various magazines associated with Catalan Modernism. He spent much of his career in Paris, where he gained particular recognition as a draftsman and illustrator. He was particularly known for his images of World War I, and he also contributed to publications in the United States and Germany.