Lluís Jou i Senabre

LLUÍS JOU I SENABRE (Barcelona, 1881 - Baus, 1968).
"Torso on his back".1928.
Ink on laid paper.
Signed.
The paper has moisture stains.
Measurements: 67,5 x 52 cm; 85 x 69 cm (frame).

Lluís Jou i Senabre was a Catalan engraver, typographer and draftsman. Born in the Vila de Gràcia, he was the eldest of eight brothers of a family of artisans, one of them, the painter Ramon Jou. He studied at the Escuela de Bellas Artes de la Lonja in Barcelona and at the age of sixteen he became a sign maker. He was part of the group Agrupació Artística with friends such as Ignasi Folch y Torres and Gabriel Vinyas. He executed works in ceramics, painting and poster design, such as the posters for the first Casals de Prada Festival. He also made satirical drawings in magazines such as L'Esquella de la Torratxa or La Campana de Gràcia. In 1906, a key year in his life, he went to Paris to meet his friend, the composer Josep Civil i Castellví. Together they created, in 1910, an unpublished opera entitled Canigó, with text by Jacint Verdaguer, music by Civil and scenography by Jou. Upon his arrival, he lived surrounded by Catalan artists, such as Manolo Hugué. For a long time he lived without money, until he was able to sell some drawings for magazines such as L'Assiette au Beurre, Le Frou-Frou, Panurge, Demain, Jean qui rit, Le Sourire or Le Rire. In 1914, he was inspired by Anatole France's book, Les opinions de Jérôme Coignard, to make engravings that he presented to the French writer. France marveled at his work and, in December of the same year, a bibliophile edition of the book was published by Les Cent Bibliophiles. Other personalities known to Jou were Guillaume Apollinaire and Jean Cocteau.