14 - JOAN CARDONA I LLADÓS (Barcelona, 1877–1957).

JOAN CARDONA I LLADÓS (Barcelona, 1877–1957). “Lady at Rest.” Oil on canvas. Signed in the lower right corner. Measurements: 85 x 93 cm; 107 x 115 cm (frame). In this work, Joan Cardona explores one of the recurring themes in his oeuvre: the female figure, rendered with a sensibility marked by the prominence of color and a free, spontaneous brushstroke. The composition stands out for the integration of the floral motifs on the dress and the basket, as well as for the contrast between the figure’s presence and the freer brushwork of the background. The work as a whole reflects the artist’s interest in decorative painting, in which the use of color takes on special significance. Trained at the Lonja School of Fine Arts and the Baixeras Academy in Barcelona, he furthered his studies in Paris, where he settled for several years. In the French capital, he formed a circle with the leading illustrators of the time, such as Cappiello, Sem, Steinlen, and Roubille. A painter and draftsman, he was highly active in the field of illustration, collaborating with Spanish magazines such as “El Gato Negro” and “Hispania,” as well as the French publications “Le Rire” and “Simplicissimus.” Of particular note is his collaboration with “Jugend,” the flagship magazine of Viennese modernism, the Jugendstil. During his time in Paris, Cardona achieved international fame thanks to his pen-and-ink drawings, characterized by their sharp lines and strong expressive qualities. In contrast, in his paintings he subordinates line to color, using warm tones in his early years and cool palettes in his mature period. His paintings, with their great expressive power and dense impasto, highlight the prominence of women, who stand out against vibrant, almost abstract backgrounds, in a style that brings him close to Anglada Camarasa. In 1897, he was awarded a prize in the competition organized by the Mariana Academy of Lleida. He exhibited in Paris at the Salons d’Automne and the Société Nationale, earning the title of “societaire” at both. He participated in the International Fine Arts Exhibitions in Barcelona in 1907 and 1929. His work is represented at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris.