Francesc Gimeno

FRANCESC GIMENO I ARASA (Tortosa, Tarragona, 1858 – Barcelona, 1927).
“Self-Portrait.”
Charcoal on paper.
Measurements: 44 x 33 cm; 61 x 50 cm (frame).

This self-portrait by Francesc Gimeno is a significant example of the introspective and direct nature that defines much of his work. The artist depicts himself engrossed in reading, resting his head on his hand in a reflective pose that underscores the intimate tone of the scene. The composition focuses on the figure, set against a barely suggested background, which reinforces the psychological intensity of the portrait.

A painter and draftsman, Francesc Gimeno began his training in Tortosa at the age of fourteen. In 1880, he moved to Barcelona and worked as a decorative painter. In 1884, he moved to Madrid, where he completed his training under Carlos de Haes and by studying the works in the Prado Museum. Upon his return to Barcelona in 1889, he abruptly turned down the contracts offered to him and devoted himself once again to decorative painting. Gimeno remained almost entirely on the sidelines of the commercial art world. For most of his life, removed from official circles, he painted what was closest to him—his family and himself—without ever neglecting landscape painting. He participated in a few exhibitions, winning awards such as honorary diplomas at the 1894 Barcelona exhibition and the 1904 National Exhibition in Madrid, but his works were frequently rejected by juries. Despite everything, Gimeno also had a small circle of admirers. The critic Romà Jori, the painter Ignasi Mallol, and the gallery owner Josep Dalmau organized the painter’s first solo exhibition in 1915. The exhibition was a critical success, and for the first time, his artistic work was recognized. Recognition of Gimeno’s work grew during the final years of his life, culminating in the tribute held in his honor at the Sala Parés during Christmas 1925. The MACBA dedicated an exhibition to him in 1978, and in 2006 the National Art Museum of Catalonia held the first truly anthological exhibition dedicated to his work. Gimeno’s works are represented in the Prado Museum, the MACBA in Barcelona, the Montserrat Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Francisco Godía Foundation, and the J. Sala Collection, as well as in various significant private collections.