Ramon Barnadas Fàbrega (1909-1981) - Paisaje

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Ramon Barnadas, depicting a mountainous landscape at the awakening of spring, where trees still bare rise above color-filled vegetation before the serene blue-tinged mountains. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Framed dimensions: 63x56x6 cm.
· Unframed dimensions: 46x38 cm.
· Oil on panel signed by the artist at the bottom right hand.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a beautiful frame (included in the auction as a gift).

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included form an integral part of the lot description. Digital representation in a contextual mockup; there may be differences from the actual item in color, scale, and details.

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

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This painting presents a landscape of intense personality, dominated by a group of slender trees rising before a succession of blue-tinged mountains. The scene seems to capture one of those transition moments when winter begins to withdraw and nature slowly awakens. The bare trunks and nearly empty branches coexist with low vegetation rich in greens, yellows, ochres, reddish tones, and purples. The entire environment conveys a sense of renewal, as if the first signs of a new season were quietly spreading across the valley.

The composition is organized around a clear layering of planes. In the lower zone appears uneven ground covered with grasses, shrubs, and small plants; in the middle space the trees rise, accompanied by a dense mass of vegetation; and in the background, the mountains form a tranquil barrier beneath a bluish gray sky. This sequence guides the eye from the chromatic richness of the foreground to the serenity of the distance, creating a convincing sense of expansiveness and depth.

The foreground possesses an extraordinary variety of colors. Yellow-green greens, ochres, browns, maroons, pinks, and small flashes of bright yellow are distributed across the terrain, suggesting wild vegetation that grows spontaneously. It is not a tidy or domesticated space, but a parcel of free nature where every plant seems to occupy its place following only the rhythm of the seasons.

In the lower strip, green and yellow tones form a luminous base that contrasts with the darker areas behind. This clarity introduces the scene and provides a sense of closeness, as if the viewer stood at the edge of a meadow. The different hues suggest small irregularities of the terrain, young grasses, fallen leaves, and corners where moisture preserves cooler colors.

Among the vegetation there are numerous yellow notes that animate the landscape. Some may recall small wildflowers beginning to open, while others seem to reflect light on the plants. Their irregular distribution creates a cheerful, spontaneous rhythm. These luminous accents stand out especially against the deep greens and browns of the surroundings, becoming signs of vitality within a landscape still marked by the nakedness of the trees.

The shrubs in the foreground form a compact mass, yet full of variations. Olive greens, earthy tones, reddish browns, muted violets, and near-black areas are distinguished. This richness makes the vegetation seem dense and abundant, though it retains a wild and slightly rough character. Nature is not idealized, but full of contrasts, changes, and unpredictable forms.

In the center of the composition several young trees with thin trunks and elongated branches rise. Their vertical silhouettes cross much of the image and visually connect the ground with the sky. Some have straight, restrained forms, while others lean or split into irregular branches. This diversity lends naturalness to the whole and prevents the group from feeling rigid or overly orderly.

The trees on the left possess light, open canopies, formed by small clusters of leaves or buds in grayish, greenish, pinkish, and beige tones. Their dark branches extend freely and sketch delicate shapes against the sky. The scant foliage allows the full structure to be seen and accentuates the sense that the cold season has just ended or still exerts some influence on the landscape.

In the central area, the branches intertwine and form a particularly dynamic lattice. Some rise almost vertically, while others open to the sides or descend gently. This ensemble of natural lines adds motion to the scene and seems to reflect the trees’ patient growth. The finer branches fade progressively into the sky, as if trying to reach the light.

One of the more prominent trees rises slightly to the right of center. Its trunk, thicker and lighter than the others, displays pinkish, brown, ochre, and small yellowish reflections. From it sprout numerous branches that open in different directions, forming a wide structure. Its position and height make it one of the painting’s main focal points.

This central tree appears to act as a boundary between two environments. To its left, a more open area where the mountains can be clearly seen; to its right, a much darker and denser vegetation concentrates. The tree figure thus establishes a balance between openness and depth, between the distant valley space and the enveloping proximity of the shrubs.

On the right side emerges a powerful mass of vegetation composed of dark greens, blue-black tones, browns, and small reddish tints. Its density contrasts with the lightness of the naked branches and provides a strong visual weight. This area can suggest a group of evergreen trees, a closed forest, or a hillside covered with scrub. Its presence creates mystery, as if hiding the continuation of the landscape.

Above this dark vegetation rise branches tinted with muted pinks, violets, grays, and reddish browns. Some retain small clusters of leaves or buds that soften their profiles. The combination of cool and warm colors adds richness and allows imagining a soft light, filtered through a clouded sky. These irregular canopies seem to ripple gently, introducing a breeze-like sensation into the scene.

The difference between the two sides of the composition is particularly appealing. The left sector conveys air, distance, and light, while the right concentrates shadow, vegetation, and depth. This opposition does not break harmony; instead, it makes the landscape more alive. The eye can move from open spaces to hidden zones, discovering a nature that alternates clarity and mystery.

Behind the trees stretches a clear band of cream, pale gray, and bluish-white tones. This area could correspond to distant fields, illuminated slopes, or remnants of snow accumulated in the valley. Its clarity separates the dark trunks from the mountains and increases the sense of distance. It also introduces a visual pause between the intense vegetation in the foreground and the large blue masses in the background.

The light shapes of the valley appear partially hidden by the trees, so the viewer can only reconstruct them through the spaces between the trunks. This fragmented vision is suggestive, as it allows imagining a much broader landscape beyond what is visible. The pale zones advance horizontally and act as a visual path that leads toward the mountains.

The mountain in the center has a soft, rounded silhouette. Its blue-gray tones convey distance and calm, contrasting with the earthier and more vibrant colors of the foreground. The slope seems to descend slowly toward the valley and is partially covered by a cool atmosphere. Its presence provides stability and establishes a natural horizon behind the bustle of branches and shrubs.

On the left is discernible another mountain formation, more distant and diffuse. Its outlines appear softened by distance, merging partially with the sky. This progressive loss of chromatic intensity creates a pleasant sense of depth. The viewer can imagine that the mountains continue beyond the scene’s limits, forming part of a vast, silent territory.

The blues in the background establish a strong contrast with the greens, yellows, and browns of the nearby terrain. While the mountains convey freshness, calm, and remoteness, the foreground vegetation provides warmth, energy, and movement. This color relationship helps differentiate the distinct spaces while uniting them within a common atmosphere.

The sky occupies the top and appears dominated by bluish grays, muted sky blues, and delicate whitish variations. It is not shown fully clear, but covered by a soft, uniform luminosity. This atmosphere may recall a fresh morning, an early spring day, or the moment after a light rain. The absence of intense light reinforces the intimate, contemplative character of the landscape.

The clarity of the sky allows the finest branches to stand out with particular sharpness. Their dark shapes rise and branch over the blue-tinged background, creating a delicate lattice. Some branches end in small buds, scattered leaves, or golden forms that seem to announce the trees’ rebirth. This opposition between the naked structure and the appearance of new life is one of the scene’s most poetic aspects.

The lighting seems softly extended across the entire landscape. There is no single zone bathed in direct glow, but a diffuse clarity gradually revealing the colors of the vegetation. The yellows in the foreground and the pink tones of the trunks gain prominence thanks to this contained light. The result is a fresh, tranquil, and slightly melancholic atmosphere.

Despite the overall serenity, the scene carries a notable sense of movement. The branches open and cross in multiple directions; the understory colors constantly change; and the tree canopies seem to respond to a light breeze. Nature feels active, even though its transformation occurs slowly and quietly. Everything seems to be growing, changing, or preparing for a new stage.

The composition combines vertical, diagonal, and horizontal lines. The trunks add verticality and elevation; the branches create diagonals that dynamize the space; and the valley and mountain bands provide horizontal stability. This variety guides the gaze smoothly, allowing the image to be explored from nearby plants to the sky and back toward the mountains.

The absence of human figures, defined paths, or prominent structures intensifies the sense of isolation. The landscape appears as a secluded corner, still free from any visible intervention. It seems a place discovered during a solitary countryside walk, when the gaze stops unexpectedly before the beauty of some trees, a slope, and the changing light of the season.

This solitude does not convey abandonment, but calm. The scene invites imagining the valley’s silence, interrupted only by wind among the branches, birdsong, or the movement of dry leaves. The viewer may feel integrated into the landscape, contemplating it from the proximity of the vegetation. The work thus awakens an intimate experience, linked to patient observation of nature.

The seasonal moment is fundamental to understanding the painting’s atmosphere. The trees are still bare, recalling winter’s austerity, while the yellows and greens of the ground announce spring’s arrival. This coexistence of end and beginning makes the landscape a representation of change. Nature appears suspended between two states, preserving the memory of cold and already showing signs of renewal.

The work can also be interpreted as a reflection on resilience and the passage of time. The trees remain upright after winter, showing their bare branches without losing their strength. Under them, the vegetation begins to regain color and vitality. The mountains, serene and unmoving in the distance, contrast with the changing cycle of plants and trees, symbolizing permanence against transformation.

The chromatic richness turns every corner of the landscape into a small visual experience. Bright yellows first attract attention; dark greens provide depth; pinks and violets soften trunks and canopies; and blues lead toward the distance. Although many colors coexist in the image, all seem tied together by the fresh and slightly misty atmosphere of the surroundings.

The eye can begin its journey in the green-yellow strip of the foreground, then move among the shrubs and climb the trunks. From the branches, it heads toward the sky and descends again to the bluish mountains. Finally, the clear areas of the valley lead back to the vegetation. This circular movement makes the composition enveloping and allows discovering new nuances with each view.

Overall, the work represents a mountainous landscape in a moment of seasonal transition, with trees still bare rising over abundant and colorful vegetation. The greens, yellows, ochres, and reddish tones of the foreground contrast with the serene blues of the mountains and the sky, while the open branches create an ascending and dynamic rhythm. The valley’s clarity, the dense forest to the right, and the delicate emergence of shoots and wildflowers build an atmosphere of silence, freshness, and renewal. More than merely describing a natural corner, the painting celebrates the resilience of the trees, the Earth's awakening, and the beauty of that moment when winter yields to the arrival of a new spring.