Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - La dama del vestido rojo

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent work of art belonging to Miquel Torner de Semir, which represents two solemn-looking women in a symbolic and mysterious setting, united by the contrast between their gazes, their outfits, and the intense colors that surround them. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 93x66x1 cm.
· Oil on panel signed by hand by the artist at the bottom left.
· The piece is in good preservation 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 painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure its protection. Shipping price covers both the cost of professional packaging 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 composition of great visual force, featuring two female figures who seem to inhabit a space filled with symbols and evocative references. At the upper right appears a profile woman, with her face turned to the left and a serene, almost contemplative expression. Her headdress, wide and ornamented with blue and gold bands, frames the head and gives it a solemn presence. Further down, in the foreground, another figure looks directly at the viewer: her large eyes, flushed cheeks, and the delicacy of her features create a kind, enigmatic, and intimate expression. The difference between their gazes establishes a silent dialogue: one seems focused on something outside the frame, while the other invites a pause before her.

The character in the lower area stands out for the intense red dress, which occupies a prominent part of the composition and immediately draws attention. The color seems to envelop her and distinguish her from the background, while the blue, ochre and dark headdress draws around her face an striking silhouette. Her figure is organized through defined shapes and simple volumes, with a stylized anatomy that accentuates the imaginative nature of the scene. The upper figure, in turn, is integrated into a kind of seat or elevated structure, whose reddish, black, and golden tones dialogue with the dress of the foreground woman. Thus, the two presences seem to belong to the same universe, although they occupy different planes and attitudes.

The background is composed of a grayish, dark surface, crossed by divisions, marks, lines and signs reminiscent of an ancient wall or a space full of inscriptions. On the left, drawn shapes and small signals can be distinguished, suggesting figures, objects, or annotations, yet remaining open to interpretation. On the right, the blocks of dark color, red bands and blue details form an almost architectural environment, with the appearance of a stage built from compartments. This space does not seek to reproduce a recognisable place with exactness; rather, it creates a mysterious atmosphere, as if the women were inside a ceremonial enclosure, a distant memory, or a fantastical narrative.

The chromatic combination reinforces that particular atmosphere. The intense red of the dress and certain background elements convey energy and warmth, while the blues and turquoise provide freshness and highlight the contours of the figures. The ochres and golds of the headdresses suggest ornamental richness, and the grays, blacks and browns of the surroundings add depth and a sense of antiquity. The contrast between the brighter areas of the faces and the shadowy spaces around them is also expressive: that difference directs the gaze toward the protagonists and makes their features seem to emerge from the background. The small white, blue, and reddish details distributed across the surface contribute to the entire piece feeling full of signals and nuances.

Overall, the work presents a poetic and enigmatic scene in which two women, united by proximity and separated by their different gazes, seem to be part of a story that the viewer must imagine. The frontal stance of the lower figure establishes direct contact, while the profile of the upper woman introduces distance and mystery. Around them, the signs, geometric forms, and color contrasts suggest a symbolic world where the everyday and the ceremonial, the intimate and the legendary, coexist. The work invites calm observation, to discover its correspondences, and to let oneself be carried by the impression of standing before a paused moment of an ancient, personal, and imaginative narrative.