Joan Roig Soler

JOAN ROIG SOLER (Barcelona, 1852-1909).
"Village street".
Oil on panel.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 19,5 x 13 cm; 25 x 18 cm (frame).

In this work Joan Roig Soler represents a narrow street of medieval architecture, built with whitewashed walls, arches and small balconies that follow one after the other along the route. The perspective leads the eye to the back of the street, where some human figures provide scale and discreetly animate the scene, reinforcing the everyday character of the place.

With a synthetic and atmospheric execution, Roig Soler captures the stillness and charm of these traditional urban spaces, more attentive to the impression of light and atmosphere than to minute detail.

Joan Roig Soler began his training with Modest Urgell and later completed his apprenticeship by traveling to the great art capitals of Paris and Rome. Closely linked to Sitges, in this town he initiated, together with Arcadi Mas i Fondevila, the informal Catalan Luminist School.

He was awarded the Third Medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition of 1887, and received awards at the Paris (1895), Barcelona (1896) and Zaragoza Exhibitions. He is represented in the collections of the Museums of Modern Art of Barcelona and Madrid.