Joan Canós (1928) - La torre del tiempo

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent work of art by Joan Canós, depicting an ancient village of tiled roofs and balconies presided over by a tower and surrounded by mountains, as a symbol of tradition, home, memory, and rootedness. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 36.5x41x1 cm.
· Oil on panel signed by the artist in the lower right corner.
· 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 description of the lot.

The work 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.

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

This painting presents an elevated view of an ancient rural village composed of numerous houses with sloped roofs, ochre facades, and small balconies that cluster closely at the foot of an extensive mountain range. The buildings occupy nearly the entire composition and overlap from the foreground to the distance, creating a lattice of walls, roofs, courtyards, and streets partially hidden. On the right side rises a tower that dominates the rooftops and serves as the main vertical reference, while the green and bluish mountains close the horizon. The absence of human figures reinforces calm and allows the architecture to be seen as a silent testimony to the passage of time.

The foreground is formed by a succession of roofs and walls, partially cut by the composition’s limits. This closeness gives the sense of observing the village from a window, a terrace, or a slightly elevated vantage point. The roofs appear at different heights and orientations. Their superposition introduces depth from the very first moment.

In the lower left zone a brown-ochre-toned building stands out. Its lateral wall rises vertically and presents a broad, almost completely closed surface. The slanted roof is covered with yellows, oranges, and browns. This dwelling functions as a frame guiding the gaze toward the center.

Next to it stretches a reddish wall that traverses the composition diagonally. Its surface is dominated by browns, maroons, and small violet tones. Several tiny openings interrupt continuity and suggest ventilation openings or gaps belonging to secondary spaces. The wall seems to enclose an inner courtyard.

The diagonal shape of this construction generates movement and directs the eye toward the central dwelling. Its roof descends from the left and approaches the middle area. The lines of the roof emphasize perspective. The architecture seems to adapt organically to the terrain’s slopes.

In the center a brown-facade house rises, forming the main visual core. The building has several floors and is topped by a large roof in ochre, beige, and gray tones. Its rectangular volume provides stability. The dwelling seems old, solid, and still inhabited.

The facade contains several windows and balconies arranged regularly. The green shutters stand out against the brown background and provide small fresh accents. Some are closed, while others appear slightly open. This variety suggests inner life that remains out of sight.

Two balconies are located on the upper floor. Their dark railings create a succession of vertical and horizontal lines. Among them appear small reddish tones that could correspond to flowers, fabrics, or household objects. These details add warmth and reveal daily use of the building.

On the lower floor appears another balcony above a lighter area of the facade. The dark railing contrasts with the whitish wall. Below opens a tall, dark door leading inside. This access seems to be at the end of a narrow street or slope.

The main door has a clear outline that distinguishes it from the facade. Its interior blackness creates depth and arouses curiosity. One can imagine it as the entrance to a family home that has remained there for generations. The darkness of the opening contrasts with the exterior light.

On the left side of the central house sticks out a small pinkish structure. Its slanted roof acts as a porch or shed. A green shutter appears at the front and establishes continuity with the windows of the main building. This extension adds irregularity and character.

A small chimney rises above the central roof. Its dark, narrow form stands out against the background houses. The chimney evokes the warmth of home and domestic life. Although it emits no smoke, its presence allows imagining inhabited rooms.

Behind the central house appears another light-colored building. Its walls combine whites, grays, and pale greens. Several dark windows are distributed across the surface. The building is partially hidden by the main roof, increasing the sense of depth.

The roofs in the background follow each other in ochre, brown, gray, and orange tones. Some coverings are wide and others barely visible. This variety shows that the village extends beyond the shown space. The composition suggests a network of narrow streets hidden among the houses.

In the upper right a group of taller structures clusters. Their forms overlap and create a small architectural hill. The facades present whites, pale greens, browns, and yellows. The irregular heights provide rhythm and reinforce the historic character.

In that area a broad sloping roof of gray and brown tones stands out. The roof seems to belong to an important building. Its size and orientation guide the eye toward the tower. The architecture progressively becomes more monumental.

The tower rises near the far right edge and constitutes the main vertical focal point. Its body is tall, rectangular, and in brown, gray, and ochre tones. At the top appears a slanted roof similar to a small four-water roof. The silhouette stands out clearly against the sky.

Under the roof there opens a dark area that could correspond to the bell tower. The openings allow imagining bells inside. The tower may belong to a church, a defensive structure, or an old communal building. Its height makes it a landmark for the whole village.

The tower symbolizes permanence and collective memory. From its elevated position it seems to observe the rooftops and streets. One can imagine its bells marking the hours and accompanying daily life. Its presence connects the different houses within the same community.

On the right side a large yellowish facade appears. Its almost smooth surface is interrupted by two dark windows with green shutters. The building rises toward the tower. The warm color brings brightness and contrasts with the central browns.

The upper window is horizontal and remains almost completely dark. The lower one is more vertical and has a small clear sill. Both openings seem closed to protect the interior from heat or cold. Their simplicity reinforces the rural character of the architecture.

In the lower-right area one can distinguish steps, walls, and small streets. The grays, blue-greens, and browns suggest stone surfaces in shadow. These lines lead toward the door of the central building. The urban space seems adapted to the terrain’s slopes.

A small dark wall crosses the lower zone and creates a separation between different levels. Its horizontal form contrasts with the diagonals of the roofs. The structure could correspond to a terrace, a courtyard, or the edge of a street. This overlay increases spatial complexity.

Shadow areas occupy a significant part of the foreground. The dark greens, blue-greens, and grays concentrate between walls and roofs. These shadows bring coolness and depth. The architecture seems to form narrow spaces protected from light.

Light mainly falls on the yellow facades, the roofs, and the central walls. The ochres and beiges take on a warm appearance, while the browns become deeper. There are no violent contrasts, but rather calm, evenly distributed lighting. The scene seems to unfold on a serene morning or afternoon.

Among the houses a few trees and shrubs are distinguished. In the central-left zone dark canopies of blue-green greens appear. These vegetal forms soften the architectural density. The village seems to open toward fields behind the houses.

Beyond the buildings stretches a strip of rural landscape. The light and dark greens suggest fields, meadows, or cultivation zones. Some trees group near the horizon. This openness connects the urban core with the surrounding nature.

In the left part of the background a broad mountain range is seen. Its profile ascends gently to a rounded summit. The dark greens, grays, and browns form a dense surface. The mountain seems close and visually protects the village.

Toward the center, the range descends and extends with gentle slopes. The green tones blend with bluish and grayish hues. This transition creates depth and suggests other, more distant elevations. The landscape continues beyond the houses.

The mountain forms a long horizontal line that contrasts with the tower’s verticality. Its presence provides stability and closes the horizon. The roofs seem to integrate into the slopes due to the similarity of their tones. Architecture and nature share the same earthy palette.

The sky occupies a wide upper band and presents a blue-green and grayish color. No clearly defined clouds appear, though some areas are lighter. The atmosphere conveys calm and a slight sense of haze. The light seems evenly distributed.

The sobriety of the sky allows the facades and roofs to stand out. The warm tones of the architecture contrast with the cool background. This opposition organizes the composition. The tower is particularly well-defined against the clarity.

The chromatic range is dominated by browns, ochres, yellows, greens, and grays. The roofs provide warm tones, the shutters introduce small intense greens, and the mountains add depth. Blues are reserved for the sky and some shadows. The whole conveys harmony and antiquity.

The composition lacks visible human figures, but does not seem to depict an abandoned place. The shutters, balconies, chimneys, and doors indicate a nearby presence. One can imagine the inhabitants inside the houses or walking the hidden streets. The silence feels momentary.

The absence of people makes the architecture the protagonist. Each roof, wall, and window seems to preserve a story. The houses show differences in height, color, and structure suggesting different construction phases. The village has grown slowly and adapted to its inhabitants’ needs.

Balconies symbolize the relationship between private life and shared space. From them one can observe the street, talk with neighbors, or tend small plants. Although now empty, they retain memories of those everyday gestures. They are elements of closeness within the solidity of the walls.

The green shutters add identity and rhythm. They recur on several facades and visually connect different buildings. Their color evokes the vegetation of fields and mountains. They function as small links between architecture and nature.

The roofs represent refuge and continuity. Their numerous overlapping forms protect homes, courtyards, and stores. The aged colors suggest years of exposure to sun, rain, and wind. Each covering seems to guard a piece of the village’s memory.

The tower can be interpreted as a symbol of community and the passage of time. It rises above the houses and remains visible from various points. Its spiritual, defensive, or communal function makes it a collective reference. Against daily changes, the tower maintains a steady presence.

The mountains reinforce the sense of permanence. They have witnessed the village’s growth and continue to surround it. Their silhouette protects the inhabited core and limits the horizon. The relationship between houses and mountains conveys rootedness.

The scene invites imagining the distant sound of a bell, the creak of shutters, and footsteps on the stone streets. It can also evoke the smell of wood, roofs warmed by the sun, and the air from the fields. The urban landscape awakens an intimate experience. It all seems full of silent stories.

Overall, this painting represents an ancient rural village of tightly grouped houses, overlapping roofs, ochre facades, balconies and green shutters, presided over by a tall tower and surrounded by mountains. The architecture symbolizes refuge, tradition, and communal life; the tower, permanence and collective memory; and the mountain landscape, protection and rootedness. The absence of human figures makes the buildings silent witnesses to time, but the small domestic details keep the presence of their inhabitants alive. The work celebrates the beauty of old villages and the deep harmony between home, history, and nature.