Xavier Cugat (1900-1990) - El toro toreado

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent etching by Xavier Cugat, which represents a satirical and caricatural scene full of black humor and theatrical chaos where exaggerated characters react to an absurd and symbolic situation.

· Dimensions with frame: 46.5x59x3 cm.
· Lithography dimensions: 25x37 cm.
· Hand-signed lithography by the artist at the lower right.
· Limited edition 194/300.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.
· The work is sold with a beautiful frame with protective glass (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.

The lithography 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 professional packing and transport.
The shipment will be made by Correos or GLS with tracking. International shipments available.

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This painting presents a satirical and theatrical scene loaded with black humor, exaggeration and social critique, where a series of caricatural characters react chaotically to an unusual and grotesque situation. The composition is built as a small scenic representation full of movement and expressiveness, where each figure seems caught in a moment of surprise, fear or disconcertment. The atmosphere combines absurd and comic elements with a visually provocative narrative, using deformed and expressive characters to build a scene full of irony. The work possesses a very dynamic energy thanks to the theater of gestures, exaggerated looks and the almost choreographic arrangement of all elements within the space. Everything seems to be part of a visual satire where drama constantly transforms into humor.

One of the most striking aspects of the work is the expressiveness of the characters. Each figure is designed with exaggerated features that intensify emotions and turn the scene into a nearly grotesque representation. The wide-eyed looks, open mouths and tense postures provide a strong narrative sense, allowing the viewer to imagine conversations, shouts or exaggerated reactions. The characters seem to participate in a kind of absurd ceremony or unexpected event where collective disconcert dominates the scene. The variety of expressions creates an interesting contrast between surprise, fear and comedy, making each figure have its own personality within the whole.

In the center of the composition appears one of the most strange and symbolic elements of the scene: a figure leaning toward the ground surrounded by scattered objects and intense color stains that heighten the sense of chaos and drama. This character seems to become the emotional and narrative focal point of the painting, while the rest of the figures react in different ways to what is happening. The presence of the small animal next to it adds even more surrealism and emphasizes the absurd character of the entire representation. At the same time, the funerary carriage located on the right introduces a clearly symbolic element related to death, though treated from a caricatured and mocking perspective rather than solemn.

The composition is full of visual contrasts between empty areas and zones crowded with characters and objects. The light background allows the figures to stand out strongly through vibrant colors and defined contours, reinforcing the graphic and humorous style of the work. The scene seems to unfold on a street or urban space barely suggested, where some architectural details serve only to contextualize the action without diminishing the protagonism of the characters. The use of simple lines and intense colors contributes to the sense of immediacy and spontaneity, as if the painting captured the culminating moment of an absurd and theatrical story.

Overall, the work offers a visual satire full of irony, exaggeration and grotesque humor, where caricatural characters star in a chaotic and theatrical scene rich in symbolism. The expressiveness of the figures, the dynamism of the composition and the contrast between comic and dramatic elements turn the painting into a provocative and deeply narrative representation. The scene conveys social critique, absurdity and a humorous view of human situations taken to the extreme, inviting the viewer to interpret the hidden meaning behind the apparent visual madness.