Pair of trompe-l'oeil paintings, early 19th century.

Pair of trompe-l'oeil paintings, early 19th century.
Collage, paint, and paper on wood.
One of them bears a label from the Manuel Barbié Gallery (Barcelona) on the back.
The frames show signs of wear.
Measurements: 34 x 25 cm; 50 x 43 cm (frame); 36 x 24.5 cm; 53 x 41 cm (frame).
A pair of early 19th-century trompe-l’œil paintings, conceived as small cabinets of curiosities in which engravings, documents, portraits, drawings, and prints are arranged seemingly at random, creating the illusion of a collection of papers and mementos piled on a table.
Trompe-l’œil experienced a period of particular flourishing between the 18th and 19th centuries, closely linked to a taste for collecting, antiques, prints, and unique objects. These compositions were not only an exercise in painterly virtuosity but also reflected the era’s passion for gathering and preserving fragments of the past. The appearance of ancient documents, historical images, and curious objects transforms each composition into a sort of cabinet of memory, where the everyday takes on new value through painting.