Rafael Durancamps

RAFAEL DURANCAMPS (Sabadell, 1891 – Barcelona, 1979).
“Capea.”
Oil on panel
Signed in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 54 x 73 cm; 77 x 96 cm (frame).
Rafael Durancamps created several works dedicated to capeas, such as the capea in Seville or the capea in Bilbao, in addition to the work “Capea,” which is part of the Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza Collection. In all of them, the artist created works in a landscape format, as in this case, which allows him to open up the panorama and enhance the sense of space. This work is an excellent example of his paintings on this theme, with the action taking place in a foreground filled with figures and an urban silhouette dominating the background.
Originally named Rafael Duran i Camps, he was a student of Vila Cinca at the Sabadell Industrial School of Arts and Crafts. Later, he met Joaquín Mir, with whom he formed a close bond, and whose style influenced the color palette of Durancamps’ early work. He exhibited for the first time in 1917 at the Galerías Layetanas in Barcelona, achieving a success that encouraged him to continue painting despite his family’s opposition. He spent several periods in Madrid, where he studied the masters at the Prado Museum, and then traveled to Italy. He returned to Barcelona and participated in various competitions, winning major awards such as the Masriera Medal in 1920, in addition to holding several exhibitions at the Parés Gallery. In 1921, he traveled to Paris for the first time. His work at this time leaned toward Impressionism, but also showed influences from Zurbarán, El Greco, and Venetian colorism, combining precise drawing with the depth of color. In 1926, he returned to France and settled in Passy, where he would live until 1939. During these years, he met Picasso, who encouraged him to hold exhibitions at the Zak Gallery; these shows were met with considerable success, which continued to grow with his subsequent exhibitions. He returned to Spain and settled in San Sebastián, but continued to maintain a close collaboration with the Sala Parés, where he continued to hold exhibitions until his death. He also held various exhibitions in Madrid, Sabadell, Bilbao, Valencia, London, and Philadelphia. Although his early period was influenced by Mir, Durancamps soon evolved toward a more personal style, placing special emphasis on constructive line and a distinctive color palette of understated beauty. His still lifes, rendered with a profusion of line and transparency, are a marvel of serenity and elegance, bearing such a personal stamp that they defy any contemporary classification. His landscapes and genre scenes—especially the bullfights in various Spanish towns—are deeply moving. The “omen-laden skies” that convey the drama of the festival evoke his keen lyrical sensibility. His work is represented in the Museums of Contemporary Art in Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastián, and Buenos Aires, as well as in a large number of collections both in Spain and abroad.