Arcadi Mas i Fondevila

ARCADI MAS I FONDEVILA
(Barcelona, 1852 - Sitges, 1934)
"Children on the beach", Vilanova i la Geltrú
Oil on board
Signed in the lower left corner
With label on the back of the historic Sala Parés
Measurements: 26,5 x 35,5 cm; 54 x 62 cm (with frame)

Delicate and luminous oil painting that represents an endearing scene of the daily life in the Catalan coast: a group of children plays on the sand next to a lateen sail boat stranded on the beach, while in the background the activity of the fishermen can be sensed. With a loose and vibrant brushstroke, Mas i Fondevila manages to capture the marine atmosphere with a freshness that identifies his years of artistic plenitude. The scene, serene but full of life, is a magnificent example of his ability to synthesize the anecdotal with the poetic.
The work stands out for its balanced composition, its treatment of the Mediterranean light and the chromatic play that defines the sky, the sea and the sand. The richness of nuances and the naturalness with which the artist portrays the coastal universe immediately refer to the spirit of Catalan luminism, of which he was one of the main promoters.

Mas i Fondevila was a key figure in the birth of the luminist school of Sitges and one of the most outstanding voices of Catalan art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work combines local lyricism with the influences of the Neapolitan naturalist school that he met during his stay in Italy, where he was a pensioner after obtaining the Fortuny scholarship. He exhibited with the greats of his time, received multiple awards and was part of the most influential artistic circles of modernist Barcelona.
His work is represented in institutions such as the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, the Cau Ferrat, the Maricel Museum or the Sitges Town Hall, as well as in other museums and important private collections. This painting also has a prestigious provenance, having passed through the Sala Parés, one of the most important spaces in the history of Catalan art.