Antonio Sadurní (1927-2014) - Una tarde de verano

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork by Antonio Sadurní, depicting an expansive landscape of golden fields sprinkled with poppies, where two figures work or rest beside a tree under a wide blue sky. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 83x96x5 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 56x65 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist at the lower right.
· The piece is in good condition.
· The work is sold with a precious frame (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

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

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

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This painting presents a broad rural landscape dominated by golden fields extending to a distant line of trees beneath a clear blue sky. The scene seems to unfold in summer, when the crops have reached maturity and the land takes on warm tones of wheat, ochre, and brown. In the central-right area appear two small figures working or resting beside the vegetation, while numerous red and yellow flowers brighten the foreground and bring a delicate vitality to the environment.

The field occupies roughly the bottom half of the composition and constitutes the main visual element. Its vast extent allows the perception of the landscape’s breadth and conveys an immediate sense of freedom. The lines across the land guide the gaze from the foreground to the figures and, subsequently, toward the soft elevations of the horizon.

The surface of the terrain shows a rich blend of yellows, ochres, browns, muted greens, and small pink reflections. The varying tones are distributed irregularly, creating the impression of cultivated land shaped by the agricultural cycle. Some areas seem to correspond to crops already harvested, while others still retain taller vegetation.

In the foreground there are numerous oblique lines suggesting furrows, cut stems, or traces left during harvest. These marks add rhythm and depth, besides revealing human intervention on the land. Their diagonal orientation directs the gaze toward the center and prevents the wide surface from feeling static.

Warm light concentrates especially over the field. The golden tones seem to catch the sun’s glow and convey the feeling of a bright and tranquil day. The brown and violet areas introduce small shadows that allow appreciation of the unevenness and diversity of the soil.

Among the crop remnants appear numerous red flowers distributed spontaneously. Their small color dots stand out intensely against the ochres and yellows. These flowers, resembling poppies, add a poetic note and transform the cultivated field into a space still full of life.

The poppies are particularly concentrated in the lower area and on both sides of the central path or strip. Some appear near the viewer, with broader and more defined shapes, while others reduce to small reddish accents in the distance. This gradual diminishment reinforces perspective.

Next to the red flowers there are small yellow, white, and violet notes suggesting other wild plants. The color variety softens the earthy expanse of the foreground and establishes a natural transition to the denser vegetation at the margins.

On the left side rises a wide mass of plants and shrubs. Their dark greens, bluish and grayish tones contrast with the clarity of the field. Among the leaves appear yellow, red, and pink flowers that enrich this area and form a natural frame for the scene.

The lateral vegetation seems to follow the edge of a hedgerow or a small rural path. Its arrangement creates a line that runs from the foreground to the middle area. Thus, the left edge guides the gaze toward the distant fields and adds order to the composition.

On the right side another band of vegetation appears, somewhat lower in the foreground and more abundant toward the central area. Its dark greens delineate the field and visually balance the mass of vegetation on the left. Small red and yellow flowers reappear among the plants, maintaining color continuity.

Near the center-right stands a leaning tree with a rounded canopy. Its dark trunk rises diagonally and supports a generous mass of green, violet, and brown leaves. The tilt adds movement and seems to reflect the ongoing effect of the wind on the landscape.

This tree constitutes one of the main reference points of the composition. Its shadow and canopy offer a possible refuge amid the field’s vastness. It also helps frame the two figures situated beside it, creating a small human scene within the landscape.

The figures appear rendered at a very small scale, underscoring the environment’s immensity. One wears a white garment and remains crouched or seated close to the ground. The other stands upright and wears a bright red shirt that clearly stands out against the natural tones.

The person dressed in white seems focused on some task related to the land. Their crouched posture could indicate that they are gathering, examining, or organizing something. The clarity of the clothing contrasts with the green shadows of the vegetation and allows their presence to be recognized despite the distance.

The red-clad figure becomes the main human and color accent in the central area. Their vertical position contrasts with the field’s horizontality and with the other person’s compact posture. The color of their clothing interacts with the poppies in the foreground and establishes a visual link between the figure and the landscape.

The relationship between both people suggests a shared activity. They could be working in the field, resting during the day, or conversing near the field’s boundary. The lack of precise details allows for imagining different stories and gives the scene a universal character.

Around the figures there are small dark and light objects that could be related to agricultural work. Their presence strengthens the impression of a working day and adds narrative richness. However, these elements remain discreetly integrated into the land.

Behind the figures, a mass of shrubs extends, combining dark greens, violets, blacks, and small yellow reflections. This vegetation separates the foreground from the middle fields and provides a visual base for the figures. Its rounded shape echoes the nearby tree’s canopy.

The landscape’s middle area is organized by broad horizontal bands of different colors. Yellow fields alternate with green, violet, and brown bands, showing the diversity of crops and plots. This sequence creates a slow rhythm that guides the eye toward the horizon.

Some fields show very bright golden tones, while others appear more muted or covered with vegetation. This variety suggests different growth stages or the varying effects of light on the land. The rural landscape is thus perceived as a productive, orderly space, yet full of nuances.

The boundaries between plots are marked by hedges, small paths, and rows of trees. These divisions are not rigid but follow the land’s curves. The result is a natural and harmonious composition in which agricultural activity seems to adapt to the landscape’s form.

Toward the center, a few small white shapes can be seen dispersed among the fields. They could correspond to rural buildings, piles of material, animals, or elements related to farming work. Their clarity introduces points of interest in the distance and helps enlarge depth.

On the left side of the middle area appears a cluster of tall vegetation with small yellow flowers or reflections. Its vertical forms rise against the dark horizon line. Near it, some tiny silhouettes could suggest birds, adding a subtle sense of movement.

Further to the right rise several trees in ochre, brown, and reddish hues. Their warm tonality contrasts with the dark green of the distant forest. These shapes may signal the end of summer or simply reflect the golden light on the foliage.

The horizon line is formed by an extensive band of blue-gray and dark green trees. This boundary clearly separates the fields from the sky and acts as a natural barrier. Its continuity provides stability and emphasizes the landscape’s horizontal breadth.

In some points, the forest mass breaks to reveal groups of pink and orange trees. These small accents introduce variety and relate the background to the foreground flowers. The repetition of warm colors maintains the composition’s unity.

The sky occupies almost the upper half and constitutes a large calm surface. Its blue-gray tone spreads evenly, creating an open, luminous, and tranquil atmosphere. The celestial expanse allows the composition to breathe and balances the richness of shapes and colors in the field.

Several small clouds appear scattered across the sky. Some are white and others show delicate pink and violet hues. Their light forms do not announce a storm, but rather add movement and soften the blue’s uniformity.

The cloud in the upper right stands out for its larger size and pink tones. Its presence visually balances the figures and the tree on that side. Other smaller clouds are distributed toward the center and left, creating a delicate rhythm over the horizon.

Overall, the lighting seems to correspond to a warm afternoon. The field receives a golden light and the clouds show soft pink reflections. This possible sunset proximity adds a nostalgic tint and turns the scene into a contemplation of the day's end.

The color palette is organized by the contrast between the cool blue of the sky and the warm yellows of the earth. The greens of the vegetation act as a transition between the two spaces, while the reds of the poppies and the figure provide energy. This combination is balanced, luminous, and deeply evocative.

The composition is structured in large horizontal bands: the worked foreground, the middle field zone, the dark forest line, and the vast sky. These bands provide stability, while the furrows, the leaning tree, and the figures introduce diagonals and verticals that animate the whole.

The absence of prominent buildings or modern roads intensifies the rural character. The landscape seems to maintain a direct relationship with the land and with natural cycles. The human figures integrate into this environment without dominating it, appearing as part of agricultural activity developed in harmony with the territory.

The work conveys the silent effort associated with farm work, but also the beauty that accompanies that labor. The furrows and the harvested land speak of labor, while the flowers, the sky, and the trees add a poetic dimension. The scene celebrates both the land’s productivity and its capacity to offer beauty.

The two figures can be interpreted as a symbol of human presence within an immense landscape. Their small size emphasizes the territory’s scale and reminds us that agriculture depends on natural forces far greater. At the same time, their colors make them an essential part of the narrative.

There is also an attractive relationship between permanence and change. The fields vary with the seasons, flowers appear and disappear, and harvests are gathered every year. The line of the forest and the sky’s expanse, however, convey a sense of continuity. This coexistence makes the landscape an image of the time cycle.

Overall, this lovely painting offers a wide, luminous, and deeply serene view of golden fields in full summer, cut by furrows and speckled with red poppies and wildflowers. The two small figures beside the tree introduce a delicate human narration, while the undulating plots, the distant forest line, and the immense blue sky build an extraordinary sense of depth. The work conveys calm, abundance, and the silent effort of rural life, turning the landscape into a celebration of the land, the harvest, and the beauty of an afternoon in the countryside."