Manuel Humbert

MANUEL HUMBERT I ESTEVE (Barcelona, 1890 - 1975).
"Landscape". 1932.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower left corner.
It belonged to the old collection of Raimond Maragall.
Published in "33 peintres catalans", by Joan Merlí, 1937, p. 104.
Measurements: 38,5 x 55,5 cm.

Manuel Humbert's style, of a contained and delicate lyricism, is expressed in a singular way in this landscape in which the houses and gardens are integrated into nature. Humbert trained in Barcelona at the Llotja School, and was also a student of Francesc d'Assís Galí at his academy. He became known in the satirical weekly "Papitu", under the pseudonym Isaac, and also collaborated with the magazine "Picarol". In 1915 he had his first individual exhibition at the Layetanas Galleries in Barcelona. Between 1909 and 1939 he lived between Barcelona and Paris, where he became friends with Picasso, Modigliani, Soutine and Kisling. Founding member of the group Les Arts y els Artistes, in 1929 he collaborated in the decoration of the National Palace of Montjuic (current National Museum of Art of Catalonia). Friend of X. Nogués and J. Aragay, he joined the realist side of noucentisme, and participated in the Salones de los Once of 1944 and 1953, as well as exhibiting individually at the Sala Parés from 1927. He worked indistinctly in sanguine, engraving, gouache and oil. He held exhibitions in Barcelona, Madrid and Paris, and in 1934 he was awarded the Nonell Prize. Also, in 1953 he was awarded the Grand Prize for Water Painting at the Hispano-American Biennial in Havana. Manuel Humbert is the painter of women in interiors of nuanced lighting, dressed, semi-dressed or naked, although always showing a certain modesty, revealing the neat and restrained character of the author. He is currently represented in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, among others, as well as in various private collections.