Francisca Salvat Homs (1946) - Sueños de infancia

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Salvat Homs, depicting a young girl asleep and curled up beside her teddy bear, in an intimate scene that evokes tenderness, protection, childhood memories, and the serenity of home. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 80.5 x 65.5 x 2 cm.
· Oil on canvas signed by the artist in the top right corner.
· The piece is in good condition, with some paint loss at the bottom.

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description. Digital representation in an indicative mockup; there may be differences with the actual article in color, scale and details.

The painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert, using high-quality materials to guarantee its protection. The shipping price covers both the cost of professional packing and the transport itself.
Shipping will be by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a scene of profound tenderness and serenity starring a girl who sleeps soundly, curled up in a large armchair. Her body folds over itself in a spontaneous, protected posture, while her head rests softly on one arm. Next to her appears a small teddy bear, a silent companion of her rest, bringing a warm, endearing note and awakening memories related to childhood, safety, and affection. The composition turns a quotidian moment into an intimate and emotional image, capable of conveying the sense of having entered, for a few moments, a private space dominated by silence and calm.

The girl almost occupies the entire surface of the chair and becomes the absolute center of the scene. Her curled posture follows the chair’s curved shape, adapting to it as if seeking refuge among the cushions. The legs are flexed and crossed, while one arm rests under the head and the other falls relaxed toward the edge of the chair. The naturality of this position suggests a deep, involuntary sleep, perhaps after an intense day, a afternoon of play, or a moment of reading and rest.

The face conveys an extraordinary sense of peace. The eyes remain closed, the brows relaxed, and the lips slightly parted reinforce the impression of a tranquil breath. There is no tension in her features, but complete surrender to sleep. The soft rosy, violet, and bluish shades across the skin add depth to the visage and reveal the delicate transition between lit areas and the small shadows around the eyelids, nose, and mouth.

The head tilts over the left arm, which acts as an improvised pillow. Below this appears a reddish cushion that provides comfort and creates chromatic continuity with the girl’s garment. The hand stays near the face, with the fingers gently curved and completely relaxed. This small gesture emphasizes the figure’s vulnerability and helps build a scene of great emotional closeness, as if the viewer were witnessing a moment typically reserved for the family.

The hair extends in broad waves over the back of the chair. Its chestnut, reddish, golden, and violet tones create a fluid movement that frames the face and extends toward the upper left. Some strands seem illuminated by warm highlights, while others blend with deeper shadows. The abundance of hair contrasts with the stillness of the sleeping body and provides a rolling rhythm that travels softly and envelopingly through the composition.

The girl wears a garment in a vivid reddish-orange color, whose brightness immediately draws the eye. The folds gather around the torso, arms, and waist, creating a succession of dynamic curves. Yellows, oranges, crimsons, and small violet nuances enrich the surface of the clothing and make it seem to vibrate within the quiet environment. This warm color makes the figure the focal point and creates a beautiful contrast with the blues of the lower part and the muted greens of the background.

The right sleeve descends to the hand that falls over the chair’s edge. The fingers appear elongated and slightly separated, without tension, signaling the complete surrender of the body during sleep. The hand seems to have remained there casually, as if it had slowly lost its position while the girl dozed off. This detail adds authenticity to the scene and reinforces the impression of a moment observed without preparation or artifice.

In the lower half, the figure is enveloped by a blue garment that covers part of the legs. The various tones, from bright blues to violets and darker shades, build a broad volume that balances the intensity of the red. The curves of this area accompany the movement of the bent legs and help visually enclosure the body within the chair. The dialogue between red and blue gives the composition great chromatic richness, combining emotional warmth with a sense of calm.

The naked legs cross in the foreground and gain a strong presence within the composition. Their rounded shapes are modeled with pinks, creams, violets, and orange reflections, creating a sense of naturalness and repose. The gathered knee position reinforces the idea of protection, as if the girl sought to keep warmth and shield herself from the outside world. The posture is not rigid, but flexible and fully adapted to the available space.

The feet are covered by pale socks that show white, bluish, green, and yellowish reflections. One rests near the chair’s right edge, while the other is partially hidden by the crossing of the legs. These small garments add a domestic and endearing detail, reinforcing the homey atmosphere. Their clarity contrasts with the blue seat and draws the eye to the figure’s extremities, completing the visual path started at the face.

The teddy bear constitutes the second major protagonist of the work. It appears beside the girl’s body, leaning on the seat and very close to her arm. Its light fur contains delicate variations of white, pale green, blue, pink, and yellow, while the ears and paws show warm orange accents. The small red bow around its neck establishes a direct relationship with the girl’s clothing and visually unites both characters.

The arrangement of the plush bear allows imagining that the girl fell asleep while hugging it or that she keeps it nearby as a comforting presence. Its face, directed toward the viewer, introduces a curious sense of companionship and vigilance. While the girl remains unaware of her surroundings, the bear seems to occupy the place of a benevolent guardian protecting her rest. This relationship between them gives the scene a narrative sense tied to innocence, memory, and the universal need to feel accompanied.

The chair plays an essential role, as it is not merely furniture but a refuge that completely envelops the figure. Its circular or semicircular seat, in intense blues and violets, forms a solid base on which the body, the plush, and the cushions gather. The backrest, covered with broad pinks, lilacs, and mauves, curves around the girl and reinforces the sense of protection. The structure appears to adapt to her posture and create a small closed universe dedicated solely to rest.

The cushions display a rich variety of colors and shapes. Under the head, a reddish-purple zone softens contact with the arm, while to the right stretches a large pink cushion with white and mauve highlights. These cushioned volumes surround the girl and enhance the visual comfort of the scene. The abundance of curves avoids any harshness and makes the space a warm, flexible, and inviting realm.

The front of the chair is dominated by deep blues, violets, and small turquoise reflections. Its rounded form acts as a large platform that sustains the entire composition and marks a clear separation from the background. Below, the chair’s wooden legs and a dark area hint at depth. The furniture’s solidity contrasts with the emotional lightness of the dream and provides balance to the body’s tilted arrangement.

The background is built with a harmony of greens, turquoise, ochres, and muted yellows. No concrete objects appear that could distract attention, so the figure is isolated within a tranquil atmosphere. The vertical variations in color suggest a wall lit irregularly, perhaps by a soft light entering from outside. This simplicity allows the viewer’s gaze to remain focused on the girl and the affectionate bond she establishes with the plush bear.

Light seems to distribute in an enveloping manner, without creating overly harsh contrasts. It caresses the hair, face, clothing, legs, and cushions, leaving small yellow and pink highlights on the surfaces. Violet and bluish shadows provide depth, but do not darken the scene; on the contrary, they help maintain a calm feeling. Everything appears submerged in the warmth of a quiet afternoon, when time stands still and sleep arrives naturally.

The color palette is one of the work’s most attractive elements. The reds and oranges of the clothing bring warmth, vitality, and closeness, while the blues and violets of the chair convey stillness and depth. The greens of the background create a serene environment, and the pinks of the backrest soften the whole. The plush, in light tones, acts as a delicate unifying point between all these areas, gathering reflections from the surrounding colors.

The composition is organized through a succession of curves that guide the eye around the body. The hair, the bent arm, the back, the folded legs, the rounded seat, and the cushions participate in the same circular movement. This structure prevents the gaze from quickly escaping the frame and invites it to explore all its details. The girl seems to be contained within a kind of protective circle, visually associated with safety, home, and affection.

The absence of other characters intensifies the intimate character of the moment. We do not know who watches the girl, what happened before she fell asleep, or how long she has been resting. Precisely this lack of information allows for multiple imagined stories: it could be a pause after an afternoon of play, an unexpected nap while waiting for someone, or a moment of fatigue at the end of the day. The scene remains open to viewers’ sensitivity and personal memories.

The dream appears represented as a space of absolute trust. The unguarded hand, the relaxed face, and the plush’s closeness indicate that the girl feels safe where she rests. There is no restlessness or threat, but a deep calm spreading through the surroundings. The chair thus becomes a small island of well-being, temporarily set apart from worldly concerns and movement.

The bear’s presence allows interpreting the work as a reflection on the permanence of childhood. Even if the figure is no longer a small girl, she keeps beside her an object charged with emotional meaning. The plush may symbolize a cherished memory, a familiar companion, or the bond with a stage of innocence and protection. This emotional dimension adds depth to what might seem a simple scene and turns it into an evocation of growth, memory, and the passage of time.

It is also particularly beautiful the opposition between the energy of the colors and the protagonist’s immobility. The intense reds, bright yellows, and vibrant blues could suggest motion and vitality; yet all converge around a completely serene body. This contradiction creates a very expressive balance: life continues beating in color while the girl remains suspended in the silence of her dreams.

The work celebrates the beauty of a quotidian moment that could easily go unnoticed. It does not depict an extraordinary event, but a domestic scene of rest, closeness, and trust. Precisely for this, it has a great capacity to awaken universal emotions. The viewer can recognize their own childhood memories, the feeling of falling asleep in a familiar place, or the tenderness of watching a loved one as they rest.

In sum, the work depicts a deeply sleeping girl cuddled in a wide armchair, accompanied by a lovable teddy bear. Her gathered posture, serene face, the abandoned hand on the edge, and bent legs convey an extraordinary sense of calm and protection. The intense reds of the clothing, the blues of the seat, the pinks of the cushions, and the greens of the background form a warm, expressive harmony that envelops the scene in an intimate atmosphere. Beyond a simple moment of rest, the painting evokes innocence, the security of home, the permanence of childhood memories, and the silent beauty of everyday moments.