Lluïsa Sallent

LLUÏSA SALLENT (Ripollet, Barcelona, 1934–2026).
“Nude No. 8,” 1978.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower left corner.
Label on the back with the title and details of the work.
Measurements: 80 x 53 cm; 97 x 70 cm (frame).

Created in 1978, two years before her first exhibition at the Sala Parés in Barcelona, this work is an early example of Lluïsa Sallent’s interest in the female nude, one of the central themes of her career. The artist depicts a young woman with her head delicately tilted and her eyes closed, conveying a sense of intimacy and contemplation. The loose, expressive brushwork, combined with a palette of ochres, pinks, and greenish hues, builds volume through subtle hallmarks of light and color. The sketchy treatment of the background reinforces the figure’s prominence and lends spontaneity to the composition.

A Catalan painter and sculptor, Lluïsa Sallent initially trained under Pere Pruna and later began working in sculpture under the guidance of Joan Rebull. Her work, distinctly figurative in character, is distinguished by her study of the female body and her search for balance and formal harmony. In 1980, she held her first solo exhibition at the Sala Parés in Barcelona, followed by other exhibitions in Spanish galleries. Her work is represented in institutions such as the Fundació Vila Casas and the Museu de la Garrotxa.