Xavier Cugat (1900-1990) - El toro toreado

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent engraving belonging to Xavier Cugat, which represents a satirical and caricatured scene full of black humor and theatrical chaos where exaggerated characters react to an absurd and symbolic situation.

• Dimensions with frame: 46.5x59x3 cm.
• Lithography dimensions: 25x37 cm.
• Lithograph signed by hand by the artist at the bottom right.
• Limited edition 194/300.
• The piece is in good conservation condition.
• The work is sold with a beautiful frame with protective glass (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the included photographs are an integral part of the lot description.

The lithograph will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a satirical and theatrical scene loaded with black humor, exaggeration, and social critique, where a series of caricatural characters react chaotically to an unusual and grotesque situation. The composition is built like a small stage representation full of movement and expressiveness, where each figure seems caught in a moment of surprise, fear, or disorientation. The atmosphere combines absurd and comic elements with a clearly provocative visual narrative, using deformed and expressive characters to build a scene full of irony. The work has a very dynamic energy thanks to the theatrics of the gestures, the exaggerated looks, and the almost choreographic arrangement of all elements within the space. Everything seems part of a visual satire where drama constantly transforms into humor.

One of the most striking aspects of the work is the expressiveness of the characters. Each figure is designed with exaggerated features that intensify emotions and turn the scene into a nearly grotesque representation. The wide-eyed looks, open mouths, and tense postures contribute a strong narrative sense, allowing the viewer to imagine conversations, shouts, or exaggerated reactions. The characters appear to participate in a kind of absurd ceremony or unexpected event where collective confusion dominates the scene. The variety of expressions creates an interesting contrast between surprise, fear, and comedy, giving each figure its own personality within the whole.

At the center of the composition appears one of the strangest and most symbolic elements of the scene: a figure leaning toward the ground surrounded by scattered objects and spots of intense color that heighten the sense of chaos and drama. This character seems to become the emotional and narrative focal point of the painting, while the rest of the figures react in different ways to what is happening. The presence of the small animal next to him adds even more surrealism and accentuates the absurd character of the entire depiction. At the same time, the funeral carriage located to the right introduces a clearly symbolic element related to death, though treated from a caricatured and mocking perspective rather than solemn.

The composition is full of visual contrasts between empty areas and zones crowded with characters and objects. The light background allows the figures to stand out strongly with vivid colors and defined outlines, reinforcing the graphic and humorous style of the work. The scene seems to unfold in a street or barely suggested urban space, where some architectural details serve only to contextualize the action without detracting from the protagonists. The use of simple lines and intense colors contributes to a sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if the painting captured the culminating moment of an absurd and theatrical story.

Overall, the work offers a visual satire full of irony, exaggeration, and grotesque humor, where caricatured figures star in a chaotic and theatrical scene rich in symbolism. The expressiveness of the figures, the dynamism of the composition, and the contrast between comic effect and drama turn the painting into a provocative and deeply narrative representation. The scene conveys social critique, absurdity, and a humorous view of human situations taken to the extreme, inviting the viewer to interpret the hidden meaning behind the apparent visual madness.