Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - Retrato

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Miquel Torner de Semir, which represents a figure of theatrical appearance who, seated beside a goblet and a fruit, remains absorbed in contemplation beneath an enveloping garden of flowers. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 92.5x73x2 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, Miquel Torner de Semir.
· The piece is in good condition.

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

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

The artwork will be professionally packed by 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 packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a solitary figure of youthful appearance, seated before a small table and immersed in a state of deep reflection. The body occupies most of the composition, while the face, slightly tilted, becomes the emotional center of the scene. The person rests the head on one hand and directs the gaze toward an undefined point, as if fully absorbed in what happens around them. The image conveys silence, melancholy, and a sense of inner pause.

The face appears in partial profile and stands out for its clarity against the dark background. The skin has pale, bluish and pinkish tones, with small warm touches on the cheeks and around the lips. The eye, large and expressive, remains open and attentive, though it seems to look more inward than toward the external world. The small, reddish mouth reinforces the delicacy of the features, while the elongated nose and the defined contour of the face contribute an elegant and somewhat theatrical presence.

The dark hair is carefully gathered and adapts to the rounded shape of the head. Several curved lines traverse its surface, organizing the hairstyle and creating a sense of volume. This sobriety contrasts with the richness of the clothing and with the large flowers located at the top. The figure seems to belong to a universe situated between reality and fantasy, like a character from a staged performance that, during a break, stops performing and reveals an intimate emotion.

The posture is especially significant. One arm is raised to support the head, while the hand rests on the cheek and temple. The other arm appears kept close to the body, reinforcing the sense of isolation. This position, traditionally associated with waiting, sadness, or contemplation, allows many thoughts to be imagined behind the silent expression. The character could be remembering an absence, waiting for news, or simply letting themselves be carried by a moment of fatigue and contemplation.

The garment covering the torso is formed by a succession of large blue and black squares that create an intense visual structure. These alternating blocks recall the outfit of a harlequin and lend a theatrical character to the figure. The blues range from dark, deep tones to brighter, violet-tinged hues, establishing a strong contrast with the paleness of the face and with the white areas of the neck and sleeves.

Around the neck opens a large white collar, wide and folded, framing the face as if it were a flower. Its different sections extend toward the shoulders and create a luminous transition between the head and the dark suit. On the wrists appear similar, white and voluminous adornments that surround the arms and highlight the delicacy of the hands. These elements add elegance and solemnity, while emphasizing the figure’s stage-like appearance.

The combination of the geometric outfit with the large pale collar yields an interesting opposition between rigidity and softness. The squares of the dress are firm, repetitive, and structured, while the white folds open more freely. This duality can be understood as a reflection of the figure’s own emotional state: a striking and orderly exterior appearance that hides a fragile, silent, and vulnerable inner world.

On the right side there is a small, light-colored round table. Upon it rests a delicate goblet, depicted in grays, whites, and blues. The goblet seems to contain a small amount of dark liquid and becomes one of the most defined objects in the scene. Its presence suggests that the figure is in a pause, perhaps after a celebration, a dinner, or a performance, though the atmosphere is far from festive.

Next to the goblet is a round fruit of an intense red color, perhaps an apple. Its warm hue immediately draws attention and contrasts with the light surface of the table. This small fruit can be interpreted as a symbol of desire, knowledge, temptation, or simply as a commonplace element that accompanies the stillness of the character. Its simple, compact form visually balances the elongated silhouette of the goblet.

In the lower left corner another clear object is distinguished, resembling a crumpled napkin, a cloth, or a discarded piece on the seat. Its informal arrangement lends naturalness and suggests that the scene was captured in a moment of rest. The figure seems to have temporarily stepped away from some activity, setting aside the objects that accompanied them to yield to their thoughts.

The upper part of the painting is traversed by large vegetal forms that envelop the scene. Two orange-reddish flowers stand out strongly among green, turquoise, and blue-green leaves. Their open corollas create points of light and color that contrast with the melancholic expression of the character. These flowers seem to float above their head as thoughts, memories, or symbolic presences, adding a poetic dimension to the composition.

The left flower has red and pink tones, while the right one opens in brighter orange colors. Both are surrounded by curved, elongated leaves that intertwine with the background. The vegetation does not form a recognizable garden, but rather a kind of ornamental frame that protects and encloses the figure. This fantastical setting reinforces the impression of an interior scene, built from emotions rather than a specific place.

The background combines browns, grays, dark greens, violets, and bluish areas. These colors form broad, undefined spaces that do not clearly reveal where the character is. The absence of a precise room or landscape concentrates all attention on the figure and its mood. The environment seems to transform according to the emotion of the viewer, potentially feeling like a silent room, a stage, or an imaginary territory.

The composition establishes a contrast between the festive appearance of the attire and the introspective attitude of the character. The checkered suit, the large white collar, the intense flowers, and the red fruit could belong to a cheerful scene; however, the posture and gaze communicate contemplation and a certain sadness. This contradiction adds depth to the painting and raises the difference between what is shown on the outside and what is felt on the inside.

The figure seems to live a moment suspended in time. There is no obvious action or closed narrative, but the scene suggests that something has happened or is about to happen. The goblet remains on the table, the fruit is intact, and the character remains motionless, as if waiting to gather the courage to make a decision. The silence surrounding the image allows the viewer to imagine their own story.

Despite the melancholy, the work does not convey only sadness. There is also a sense of serenity, sensitivity, and contemplative beauty. The character’s expression does not seem desperate, but deeply human. Their stillness invites stopping and recognizing those moments when a person withdraws from the outside world to listen to their own thoughts, remember the past, or understand their emotions.

Overall, this precious painting represents a figure with a theatrical and delicate appearance, seated beside a table while quietly reflecting under a surroundings filled with flowers and enveloping forms. The blue and black outfit, the large white collar, the goblet, and the red fruit build a mysterious scene in which elegance, melancholy, and fantasy coexist. The work conveys the intimacy of a deep thought and suggests the contrast between an externally striking appearance and an interior world that is vulnerable, solitary, and full of emotions.