Enric Casanovas

ENRIC CASANOVAS ROY (Barcelona, 1882 - 1948).
"The bath".
Relief in terracotta.
Signed.
Measurements: 53 x 51 x 5 cm.

The relief in tender is ascribed to the noucentista movement of which Enric Casanovas was a fervent representative, although it also had influences of classicism and an evolution towards more modern forms. The piece represents an intimate and classical scene: two nude or semi-nude female figures in a calm and natural attitude, one standing and the other seated, establishing a harmonious visual dialogue. The anatomical treatment is soft, idealized and with rounded volumes, very characteristic of Casanovas' mature style. The background and the framing of the relief maintain that sense of Mediterranean calm typical of Noucentisme.

The sculptor Enric Casanovas began his training as a disciple of Josep Llimona, to then enter the School of La Lonja in Barcelona. In 1900 he made his first trip to Paris, and on his return he showed his work at Els Quatre Gats. Between 1904 and 1913 he lived between Paris and Barcelona, in contact with Picasso, Maillol and Gargallo, among other artists. In 1920 he obtained a special room at the Fine Arts Exhibition, and in 1922 he took part in the Catalan Artists' Exhibition in Amsterdam. Five years later he showed his work in Italy, and in 1929 he won the gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona. In 1932 he enters the Academy of Fine Arts of San Jorge, and in 1935 he obtains the Campeny prize of the Generalitat de Catalunya. He is currently represented in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Municipal Museum of Tossa de Mar, the Jaume Morera Art Museum in Lleida, the Luis Perlotti Sculpture Museum in Buenos Aires and the MACBA in Barcelona.