Josep Serrasanta

JOSEP SERRASANTA (Buenos Aires, 1916 – Valldoreix, Barcelona, 1998).
“Street”
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 73 x 60.5 cm; 92 x 79 cm (frame).

A highly expressive urban scene, centered on a narrow street in a working-class neighborhood, enlivened by figures in the foreground. Serrasanta constructs the scene with energetic, impasto brushstrokes, akin to the use of a palette knife, alternating areas of intense light with deep shadows.

The artist gives special prominence to the interplay of whites, ochres, and blues on the facades, creating a vibrant composition with a powerful atmospheric effect. The figures, rendered with quick strokes, bring everyday life and a narrative sense to the scene.

Born in Argentina to Catalan parents, Josep Serrasanta lived in Catalonia from childhood and trained at the La Lonja School of Arts and Crafts, where he was a student of Francesc Gimeno. He focused on landscapes, folk figures, still lifes, and mural painting, standing out for his vibrant use of color and energetic style. He created major mural decorations in Catalan churches, such as Santa María de Castelldefels and Lleida Cathedral. He exhibited in Spain, France, the United States, and Japan, and in 1964 he won the Grand Prix International de Cannes.