Joan Rebull

JOAN REBULL (Reus, 1899 – Barcelona, 1981).
“Reclining Young Woman.”
Patinated bronze.
Marble base.
Signed.
Measurements: 25 x 64 cm.

A patinated bronze sculpture by Joan Rebull, which delicately and masterfully depicts a nude young woman, covered only by a cap or scarf wrapped around her head, lending her an intimate and reserved air. The figure is drawn inward in a posture of serene introspection: she bends one leg against her chest, while the other, also bent, rests with her foot firmly on the ground, lending the composition a subtle dynamic balance. The work stands out for its profound naturalism, a faithful reflection of Rebull’s interest in the human figure not as an idealized archetype, but as a sensitive embodiment of tangible beauty. The face, with its soft and harmonious features, conveys a meditative calm. The modeling is understated and precise, revealing a refined understanding of anatomy, especially evident in the rendering of the skin tones, which possess a tactile realism without falling into academic affectation.

Considered the most prominent Catalan sculptor of his time, Joan Rebull began his career in sculpture in his hometown under the guidance of the sculptor Pau Figueres. In 1915, he moved to Barcelona to begin his artistic training at the La Lonja School of Fine Arts, while also working in the studio of the marble craftsman Bechini. In 1916, he held his first solo exhibition at the Reus Reading Center, and the following year, together with other artists, he founded the group known as “Els Evolucionistes,” which sought to counter the Catalan Noucentisme movement. Awarded a scholarship by the Artistic Circle, in 1921 he traveled to London and Paris, cities where he was particularly struck by the ancient art housed in their museums. Between 1926 and 1929, he lived in the French capital and participated in the Salon des Indépendants, though he also submitted works to exhibitions in Barcelona. In Paris, he was the first artist represented by the prominent Catalan art dealer Joan Merli. Upon his return, he was named president of the new Montjuïc Salon (1932) and a member of the Sant Jordi Academy (1934); he participated in various exhibitions in Madrid and Barcelona and, in 1938, won the Campeny Prize at Barcelona’s Autumn Salon. After the war, he went into exile in Paris, where he actively participated in the art scene, taking part in the exhibition “Le Jeune Sculpture Française” and the Salons d’Automne. He returned to Barcelona in 1948, and three years later won a grand prize at the First Hispano-American Art Biennial in Madrid. In 1962, he was appointed professor at the Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts, and shortly before his death, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Generalitat of Catalonia. A product of Noucentista perfectionism and a master draftsman, Rebull worked with great technical mastery and confidence in the path he had chosen. His sculpture is direct and free of rhetoric, based on a serene and essential vision of reality. His style can be defined as a return to the roots of classicism, though he never merely copies its conventions. His work is represented in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Reina Sofía National Center, Barcelona City Hall, the Monastery of Montserrat, and the Palau de la Música Catalana, among other institutions.