Joaquín Vancells

JOAQUIN VANCELLS (Barcelona, 1907 - 1950).
Untitled.
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 66 x 85 cm.
This painting by Joaquín Vancells presents a serene and melancholic landscape, typical of his modernist sensibility towards nature. The scene is situated on the shore of a quiet river or lake, whose waters reflect the light and the tones of the environment with a delicate play of green and golden shades.
To the right, a group of large trees stands with dark and robust trunks, whose bare branches, laden with autumn leaves, project towards the sky and the water, creating a web of organic lines that bring dynamism to the composition. The leaves, in shades of ochre, orange and yellow, announce the autumn season, while in the background, softer masses of vegetation are perceived, blurring between the mist and the sifted light of the sky.
The treatment of the atmosphere is one of the most successful elements: a diffuse, almost veiled luminosity permeates the scene and enhances the contemplative effect. Vancells, attentive to the effects of light and chromatic harmony, combines naturalistic precision with a poetic gaze that seeks to capture the spiritual essence of the landscape rather than its mere reproduction.
A landscape painter active during the first half of the 20th century, Joan Vancells developed a language of impressionist heritage. He became known through competitions such as the First Saló dels Independents Terrassencs in 1934, and also held solo exhibitions. After his death, in 1960, the Sala Rovira dedicated an exhibition to his work. He is currently represented in several private collections.