Carles Nadal

CARLES NADAL FARRERAS (Paris, 1917 – Sitges, Barcelona, 1998).
“Sailboats,” 1979.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower right corner. Signed, dated, and titled on the reverse.
Measurements: 33 x 41 cm; 35 x 43 cm (frame).

Carles Nadal’s painting is characterized by the prominence of color, a free brushstroke, and a vibrant vision of the environment, linked to Post-Impressionism and the Fauvist tradition, particularly close to that of Raoul Dufy. In his landscapes, seascapes, and interiors, forms are simplified and space is interpreted freely, seeking to convey the emotion of the place through rhythm and chromatic hallmarks.

In this seascape, these traits are evident in the contrast between the reds, oranges, and yellows of the boats and the blues and greens of the water. The visible, energetic brushstrokes construct the boats through loose patches and strokes, while the masts establish a vertical rhythm that is marked by diagonals on the hulls. The clustering of boats in the foreground and the freedom of perspective lend dynamism and depth. Taken as a whole, the composition transforms the harbor scene into a luminous and vibrant image, where color accounts for much of the expressive power.

Carlos Nadal developed a distinguished international career and established a personal style closely linked to Fauvism, in which color became his primary means of expression. Trained at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Jorge in Barcelona, he furthered his studies in Paris and, from the late 1940s onward, spent much of his career in Belgium. His time in Brussels proved decisive in the development of the intense color palette and compositional freedom that characterize his mature work.
He exhibited extensively in Spain and Europe, at galleries such as Georges Giroux, Brachot, Sala Gaspar, Sala Parés, and Sala Vayreda, and was invited to show his work at the Royal Academy in London. He received institutional recognition early on: in 1950, the Royal Belgian Commission for Museums acquired one of his paintings, and subsequently other works were added to Spanish public collections. His work is represented in institutions such as the MACBA in Barcelona and in Belgian museum collections, a testament to the international renown the artist achieved.