Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - La ofrenda dorada

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Miquel Torner de Semir, which depicts two women gathered around a protected creature, in a symbolic scene that evokes motherhood, care, female unity and transmission between generations. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 93x67x1 cm.
· Oil on board hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, Miquel Torner de Semir.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.

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 a purposive 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 carried out by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This painting presents a deeply symbolic scene starring two female figures that occupy almost the entire composition and seem to share a moment of closeness, protection and complicity. The woman on the right, larger in size, holds between her arms a wrapped and colorful form that recalls a newborn, while the figure on the left approaches with an attentive and serene expression. The encounter between them is surrounded by a universe of fragmented shapes, intense colors and ornamental surfaces that transform the scene into a poetic evocation of motherhood, care and affective transmission between generations.

The central figure rises with an elegant and monumental presence. Her long neck, the delicacy of her face and the frontal position of her body grant her a dignity almost ceremonial. Her features appear defined with great sensitivity: dark, open eyes look directly at the viewer, fine eyebrows emphasize a slightly melancholic expression, and the small reddish lips remain closed in a gesture of restraint. It is not a completely calm gaze, but an expression in which tenderness, responsibility and a silent worry seem to coexist.

The soft gray, white, pink and bluish nuances of the face create an attractive contrast with the deeper colors of the surroundings. The cheeks, marked by delicate reddish accents, add warmth and humanity, while a small orange note lights up the nose and lips. The apparent serenity of the countenance is enriched by a slight asymmetry that makes it especially expressive. The woman seems to observe the viewer while remaining fully aware of what she protects in her arms.

Her head is surrounded by a broad structure resembling a headdress, elaborate coiffure or a large hat of fantastical character. This form extends horizontally and combines browns, ochres, blacks and lines of intense blue. The curved and parallel strokes create the impression of folds, ribbons or carefully ordered strands, adding movement to the upper part of the composition. The breadth of the headdress enhances the figure’s importance and gives her an timeless appearance, positioned between the everyday woman, the protective mother and a character of almost mythical nature.

On both sides of her face stand two small turquoise earrings. Their bright color introduces a luminous note over the more muted skin tones and establishes a direct relationship with the blue and green areas of the background. These details, though small, draw the eye and frame the face delicately. To the right also appears a circular magenta shape, resembling a jewel, a brooch or an ornamental element, reinforcing the enigmatic character of the attire.

The woman’s clothing is built through an extraordinary variety of shapes, lines and decorative motifs. The wide neck opens around the shoulders and combines gray, brown, reddish and bluish tones. The diagonal lines and small geometric divisions recall ancient embroidery or ceremonial adornments. The garment’s body presents dark zones of great visual richness, traversed by vegetal motifs, abstract figures and fragments that seem to contain small hidden stories.

The arms form a protective structure around the central element. One arm descends diagonally from the right shoulder, while the other curves underneath, creating a closed and safe space. The hands, elongated and pale, rest gently on the form she holds. Their position conveys care, delicacy and loving vigilance rather than strength or possession. The gesture suggests that what rests in her arms is fragile and profoundly valuable.

In the center of the scene appears an oval, enveloping form dominated by whites, grays, yellows, blues and violets. Its contours and position allow it to be read as a small clothed body, a protected creature or a symbolic representation of new life. The yellow spots bring luminosity and seem to radiate from the inside, while the blues and violets create curves that recall folds, movements or organic shapes. The ambiguity of this element intensifies the poem-like dimension of the work, allowing each viewer to construct their own interpretation.

The arrangement of the arms around this central figure immediately evokes motherhood. The woman seems to cradle a being newly come into the world, hidden among fabrics, colors and protective shapes. Yet the image goes beyond a literal representation and turns the act of embracing into a universal symbol. It may speak of birth, fragility, the responsibility to care for another being, or the human need to offer shelter from a complex and uncertain world outside.

To the left appears a second female figure represented in profile. Her face is turned toward the center of the composition, establishing a visual relationship with the main woman and with what she is holding. Her features are delicate and youthful: a smooth forehead, a dark attentive eye, a straight nose and small reddish lips form an expression of concentration and curiosity. The figure seems to observe the scene with respect, as if witnessing a moment of intimate importance.

The elaborate headdress of this second woman is one of the most singular elements of the painting. It is formed by broad brown and ochre surfaces, traversed by blue lines and small decorative circles. An orange stripe surrounds the forehead and creates a warm transition between the face and the top of the headdress. Its volume projects backward and integrates with the dark background shapes, giving the figure a historic, theatrical and mysterious appearance.

The young woman’s clothing provides some of the most intense colors in the work. The reds, magentas, violets and oranges are distributed in wide bands that run across the torso and sleeve. These warm tones contrast with the gray and bluish tones of the skin, giving her a vibrant presence. The exposed neck and the soft curvature of the shoulders introduce a sense of vulnerability, while the chromatic richness of the clothing expresses vitality, youth and emotional closeness.

The left figure’s hand appears in the lower area, extended toward the center and holding a small round object of yellow and orange. This object may recall a fruit, a luminous sphere or a symbolic offering. Its presence introduces a possible narrative action: the young woman seems to bring a food, a gift or a small source of light toward the woman and the creature. The gesture can be interpreted as participation in care, a sign of generosity, or the giving of something precious between two generations.

The relationship between the two figures is especially suggestive. The woman on the right stands frontal, steady and protective, while the profile-view figure approaches and directs all her attention toward her. Both form a closed composition around the central element, as if taking part in a domestic ritual or a family gathering. Their bodies overlap and connect through their hands, gazes and colors, creating a sense of union that runs through the entire work.

The size difference between the figures may express a hierarchical, affective or generational relationship. The main woman could represent a mother, a protective figure or an ancestral presence, while the left one could be a daughter, a sister, or someone who learns by watching. The scene seems to speak of knowledge silently transmitted, of care gestures passed from one set of hands to another and of the female bonds that sustain daily life.

The background is organized as a mosaic of large geometric areas. Whites, grays, blacks, browns, reds and turquoises are distributed behind the figures, creating a fragmented and dynamic structure. Some shapes resemble walls, fabrics, windows or architectural elements, though none is fully defined. This indeterminacy allows the space to function as a mental stage, built from memories, emotions and fragments of different realities.

At the top stands a wide turquoise band that introduces freshness and brightness. Its color contrasts with the browns and blacks that surround the main figure’s headdress and acts as a visual opening within the sculpture’s density. Near it appears a large red surface that repeats the tones of the young woman’s attire. These vivid colors establish connections between the background and the characters, making all parts of the painting participate in a single harmony.

The black and brown tones add depth and function as areas of quiet between the numerous details. The large dark surface behind the main woman highlights the clarity of her face and neck, making her the immediate focal point of the scene. Likewise, the black background behind the left figure emphasizes her profile and the intensity of her clothes. The darkness does not convey a threatening feeling, but serves as a space of contemplation that concentrates attention on the protagonists.

The composition is traversed by numerous curved lines and diagonals. The headdresses, shoulders, arms and the central form create a circular movement that guides the gaze from one figure to the other. This journey begins at the main woman’s face, descends to the element she holds, continues through her hands and then toward the left young woman. Finally, the extended hand and the small yellow sphere return attention to the center, visually closing the scene.

The painting combines a monumental appearance with a deeply intimate emotion. The figures possess a solemn presence, reinforced by their headpieces and ornamented dresses, but the gesture they share belongs to the private, everyday realm. The work seems to elevate the simple act of holding, watching and offering into a ceremony. In this way, care acquires universal dignity and presents itself as one of the fundamental bonds of human experience.

The richness of the decorative motifs invites slow contemplation of the image. In the garments and in the background appear lines, circles, spirals, geometric figures and vegetal shapes that overlap without losing their balance. Each zone seems to contain a small visual universe, from the blue stripes on the headpieces to the dark designs of the main outfit. This abundance of details confers a narrative character to the work, as if the fabrics preserved memories, symbols and signals of an ancient story.

The chromatic range establishes a delicate balance between warmth and sobriety. The reds, magentas and yellows provide energy, affection and vitality; the turquoises and blues introduce freshness and depth; and the browns, blacks and grays offer stability. The most luminous colors appear at strategic points —the earrings, the sphere, the central element and the upper band— acting as small beacons of hope within a darker, more contained environment.

The expressions of the women reinforce the mystery of the scene. Neither smiles openly, and both seem focused on a moment of great significance. The main woman looks at the viewer with a blend of serenity and gravity, while the young woman remains absorbed in what is happening before her. This emotional restraint avoids an overly obvious interpretation and allows tenderness, worry, respect, memory and a silent sense of responsibility to be discovered in the image.

The work can be understood as a celebration of motherhood, but also as a broader reflection on protection and the bonds between women. The creature or wrapped form at the center represents what must be cared for, while the two figures embody different ways of offering attention: one through embrace and the other through closeness and giving. The painting thus presents care as a shared task, built through small gestures and a constant presence.

It can also be seen as a connection between past, present and future. The headdresses and ornamentation evoke remote times, the care scene belongs to the emotional present of the protagonists, and the possible creature symbolizes the continuity of life. The figures seem to be part of an invisible chain of generations, united by knowledge, memories and affections that are transmitted without words. This temporal dimension adds depth to an image that, at first glance, stands out for its chromatic and formal intensity.

Overall, the work represents an intimate meeting between two female figures gathered around a protected, luminous form that evokes a newborn. The main woman holds her carefully in her arms, while the profile-born figure approaches with attention and offers a small golden sphere. The elaborate headdresses, the ornamented garments, the background’s fragmentation and the contrast between reds, turquoise, yellows, grays and blacks create a scene rich in mystery and symbolism. Beyond a literal reading, the painting speaks of motherhood, protection, feminine complicity, transmission between generations and the quiet power of gestures with which human beings care for what they love.