Francisca Salvat Homs (1946) - Sueños de infancia

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Salvat Homs, which depicts a young sleeping girl cuddled beside her teddy bear, in an intimate scene that evokes tenderness, protection, childhood memories and the serenity of home. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 80.5x65.5x2 cm.
· Oil on canvas signed by the artist in the top right corner.
· The piece is in good condition, with some loss of paint at the bottom.

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the photographs included are an integral part of the lot description. Digital representation in a non-binding mockup; there may be differences with the real item in color, scale and details.

The painting will be professionally packed by an IVEX expert, 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.

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This painting presents a scene of deep tenderness and serenity starring a girl who sleeps peacefully, cuddled on a wide armchair. Her body folds over itself in a spontaneous and protected posture, while her head rests gently on one arm. Next to her appears a small teddy bear, a silent companion of her rest, which introduces a touching note and evokes childhood memories related to safety and affection. The composition turns a daily moment into an intimate and emotional image, capable of conveying the sensation of having entered, for a while, a private space dominated by silence and calm.

The young woman almost entirely occupies the surface of the armchair and becomes the absolute center of the scene. Her curled posture follows the curved shape of the seat, adapting to it as if seeking refuge among the cushions. The legs appear flexed and crossed, while one arm rests under the head and the other falls relaxed toward the edge of the chair. The naturalness of this position suggests a deep and involuntary sleep, perhaps after a long day, an afternoon of play, or a moment of reading and rest.

The face conveys an extraordinary sense of peace. The eyes remain closed, the eyebrows are relaxed, and the lips, slightly parted, reinforce the impression of a calm breath. There is no tension in her features, but complete surrender to sleep. The soft pink, violet and bluish tones that run across the skin add depth to the countenance and allow perceiving the delicate transition between the illuminated areas and the small shadows that form around the eyelids, the nose and the mouth.

The head tilts onto the left arm, which acts as an improvised pillow. Under this lies a reddish cushion that provides comfort and creates a chromatic continuity with the girl’s garment. The hand stays near the face, with the fingers gently bent and completely relaxed. This small gesture emphasizes the figure’s vulnerability and helps build a scene of great emotional closeness, as if the spectator were witnessing a moment normally reserved for the family sphere.

The hair spreads in wide waves over the back of the armchair. Its chestnut, reddish, golden and violet tones create a fluid movement that frames the face and extends toward the upper left area. Some strands seem lit by warm reflections, while others merge with deeper shadows. The abundance of hair contrasts with the stillness of the sleeping body and provides a wavy rhythm that flows through the composition softly and envelopingly.

The young woman wears a garment in a vivid red-orange color, whose luminosity immediately draws the eye. The folds accumulate around the torso, arms and waist, creating a succession of dynamic curves. The yellows, oranges, carmine and small violet nuances enrich the surface of the clothing and make it seem to vibrate within the silent environment. This warm color makes the figure the focal point and establishes a beautiful contrast with the blues at the bottom and the subdued greens of the background.

The right sleeve descends to the hand that falls over the edge of the armchair. The fingers appear elongated and slightly separated, without any tension, manifesting the complete abandonment of the body during sleep. The hand seems to have remained there casually, as if it had slowly lost its position while the girl dozed. This detail adds authenticity to the scene and reinforces the impression of a moment observed without preparation or artifice.

In the lower half, the figure is wrapped in a blue garment that covers part of her legs. The different shades, from bright blues to violets and darker tones, build a broad volume that balances the intensity of the red. The curves in this area accompany the movement of the bent legs and help visually enclose the body within the armchair. The dialogue between red and blue gives the composition great chromatic richness, combining emotional warmth with a sense of calm.

The bare legs cross in the foreground and gain a prominent presence within the composition. Their rounded forms are modeled with pinks, creams, violets and orange reflections, creating a sense of naturalness and repose. The gathered knee position reinforces the idea of protection, as if the girl sought to keep warm and shield herself from the outside world. The posture is not rigid, but flexible and fully adapted to the available space.

The feet are covered with light socks that show white, bluish, green and yellowish reflections. One rests near the right edge of the armchair, while the other is partially hidden by the crossing of the legs. These small garments add a everyday and endearing detail, reinforcing the domestic atmosphere. Their clarity contrasts with the blue seat and draws the eye to the extremities of the figure, completing the visual path started at the face.

The teddy bear is the second major protagonist of the work. It appears beside the girl’s body, leaned against the seat and very close to her arm. Its light fur contains delicate variations of white, pale green, blue, pink and yellow, while the ears and paws show warm orange accents. The small red bow around its neck establishes a direct connection with the girl’s clothing and visually unites the two characters.

The arrangement of the plush allows imagining that the girl fell asleep while hugging it or that she keeps it close as a comforting presence. Its face, directed toward the viewer, introduces a curious sense of companionship and vigilance. While the girl remains unaware of what surrounds her, the bear seems to occupy the role of a loving guardian protecting her rest. This relationship gives the scene a narrative sense tied to innocence, memory, and the universal need to feel accompanied.

The armchair plays an essential role, functioning not just as furniture but as a refuge that completely envelops the figure. Its circular or semicircular seat, in intense blues and violets, forms a solid base on which the body, the plush and the cushions gather. The backrest, covered with wide pink, lilac and mauve surfaces, curves around the girl and reinforces the sense of protection. The structure seems to adapt to her posture and create a small private universe devoted exclusively to rest.

The cushions display a rich variety of colors and shapes. Under the head there is a reddish and violet area that softens contact with the arm, while to the right extends a large pink cushion with white and mauve reflections. These padded volumes surround the girl and increase the visual comfort of the scene. The abundance of curves avoids any harshness and turns the space into a warm, flexible and cozy realm.

The front part of the armchair is dominated by deep blues, violets and small turquoise reflections. Its rounded shape acts as a large platform that supports the entire composition and marks a clear separation from the background. Below, the wooden legs and a dark area hint at depth. The solidity of the furniture contrasts with the emotional lightness of the sleep and provides balance to the slanted arrangement of the body.

The background is built with a harmony of greens, turquoise, ochres and muted yellows. No concrete objects distract attention, so the figure remains isolated within a tranquil atmosphere. The vertical variations of color suggest a wall lit irregularly, perhaps by a soft light entering from some exterior point. This simplicity allows the viewer’s gaze to stay focused on the girl and the affectionate relationship she establishes with the plush.

The light seems to distribute in an enveloping way, without creating excessively harsh contrasts. It caresses the hair, the face, the clothes, the legs and the cushions, leaving small yellow and pink highlights on the surfaces. The violet and blue shadows provide depth, but do not darken the scene; on the contrary, they help maintain a sense of calm. Everything seems submerged in the warmth of a quiet afternoon, when time slows and sleep comes naturally.

The chromatic range constitutes one of the most attractive elements of the work. The reds and oranges of the clothing convey warmth, vitality, and proximity, while the blues and violets of the armchair convey stillness and depth. The greens of the background create a serene atmosphere, and the pinks of the backrest soften the whole. The plush, in light tones, acts as a delicate unifying point among all these areas, catching highlights from the surrounding colors.

The composition is organized through a sequence of curves that guide the gaze around the body. The hair, the bent arm, the back, the gathered legs, the rounded seat and the cushions participate in the same circular movement. This structure prevents the gaze from quickly escaping the painting and invites it to explore all its details. The girl seems to be contained within a kind of protective circle, visually associated with safety, home and affection.

The absence of other characters intensifies the intimate nature of the moment. We do not know who watches the girl, what happened before she fell asleep, or how long she has been resting. Precisely this lack of information allows imagining multiple stories: it could be a pause after an afternoon of games, an unexpected dream while waiting for someone, or a moment of exhaustion at the end of the day. The scene remains open to the sensitivity and to the personal memories of each viewer.

The dream appears represented as a space of absolute trust. The unprotected position of the hand, the relaxation of the face and the proximity of the plush indicate that the girl feels safe where she rests. There is no restlessness or threat, but a deep calm that extends to the entire environment. The armchair thus becomes a small island of well-being, temporarily detached from worries and the movement of the outside world.

The presence of the teddy bear allows interpreting the work as a meditation on the permanence of childhood. Even if the figure is no longer a little girl, she keeps next to her an object rich in sentimental meaning. The plush may symbolize a cherished memory, a familiar companion, or the bond with a stage of innocence and protection. This emotional dimension adds depth to a seemingly simple scene and transforms it into a tribute to growth, memory, and the passing of time.

It is also especially beautiful the contrast between the energy of the colors and the immobility of the protagonist. The intense red, the bright yellows and the vibrant blues could suggest movement and vitality; yet, all of them gather around a completely serene body. This contradiction creates a very expressive balance: life continues to beat in the color, while the girl remains suspended in the silence of her dreams.

The work celebrates the beauty of a moment of everyday life that could easily go unnoticed. It does not depict an extraordinary event, but a domestic scene of rest, closeness and trust. Precisely for this reason it has a great capacity to awaken universal emotions. The viewer can recognize in it his/her own childhood memories, the feeling of falling asleep in a familiar place or the tenderness of watching a loved one rest.

Overall, the work portrays a deeply sleeping and cuddled young woman on a wide armchair, accompanied by an endearing teddy bear. Her gathered posture, serene face, the abandoned hand on the edge and the flexed legs convey an extraordinary sense of calm and protection. The intense reds of the clothing, the blues of the seat, the pinks of the cushions and the greens of the background form a warm and expressive harmony that envelops the scene in an intimate atmosphere. Beyond showing a simple moment of rest, the painting evokes innocence, home security, the permanence of childhood memories, and the silent beauty of everyday moments.