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 a color-filled vegetation before the serene bluish 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 board signed by the artist in the lower right corner.
· The piece is in good conserved 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 included photographs form an integral part of the lot description. Digital representation in a mockup is indicative; there may be differences from the actual item in color, scale, and details.

The painting will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), 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, 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 that rise before a succession of bluish mountains. The scene seems to capture one of those moments of transition when winter begins to retreat and nature slowly awakens. The trunks are still bare and the branches almost empty, coexisting with low vegetation full of greens, yellows, ochres, reddish tones and violets. The entire environment conveys a sense of renewal, as if the first signs of a new season were silently spreading across the valley.

The composition is organized from a clear overlay of planes. In the lower area appears irregular terrain covered with herbs, 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 under a gray-blue sky. This sequence guides the gaze from the chromatic richness of the foreground to the serenity of the distance, creating a convincing sense of breadth and depth.

The foreground possesses an extraordinary variety of colors. Yellow-green, ochres, browns, maroons, pinks and small flashes of vivid yellow are distributed over the ground, suggesting wild vegetation growing spontaneously. It is not a tidy or domesticated space, but a plot of free nature, where each plant seems to occupy its place according only to the rhythm of the seasons.

In the lower band, greens and yellows form a luminous base that contrasts with the darker zones behind. This clarity introduces the scene and provides a sense of proximity, as if the viewer stood at the edge of a meadow. The different shades suggest small irregularities of the terrain, young grasses, fallen leaves and corners where moisture preserves cooler colors.

Among the vegetation appear numerous yellow notes that animate the landscape. Some may recall small wildflowers beginning to bloom, while others seem to be light reflections on the plants. Their irregular distribution creates a cheerful and 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 dense mass, yet full of variations. It reveals olive greens, earthy tones, reddish browns, muted violets and almost black areas. 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 shapes.

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 avoids a rigid or overly orderly group.

The trees on the left have 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 scarcity of foliage allows viewing their entire structure and accentuates the sense that the cold season has just ended or still exerts some influence on the landscape.

In the central zone, the branches cross and form a particularly dynamic network. Some ascend almost vertically, while others branch out to the sides or descend gently. This set of natural lines adds movement to the scene and seems to reflect the patient growth of the trees. The finer branches progressively disappear into the sky, as if reaching for light.

One of the more prominent trees rises slightly to the right of center. Its trunk, thicker and lighter than the others, shows pinks, browns, ochres and small yellowish reflections. From it depart numerous branches that open in different directions, forming a broad structure. Its position and height make it one of the main focal points of the work.

This central tree appears to act as a boundary between two environments. To its left opens a clearer area where the mountains can be seen clearly; to its right concentrates a much darker and denser vegetation. The tree 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 nuances. Its density contrasts with the lightness of the bare branches and provides a strong visual weight. This area could suggest a group of evergreen trees, a dense forest, or a hillside covered with scrub. Its presence creates mystery, as it seems to hide the continuation of the landscape.

Over this dark vegetation rise branches tinted with faded 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 by a cloud-covered sky. These irregular canopies seem to flutter gently, introducing a sense of breeze into the scene.

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

Behind the trees a clear band of cream, pale gray and bluish-white tones extends. This zone 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 enhances the sense of distance. It also introduces a visual pause between the intense vegetation in the foreground and the large bluish masses in the background.

The clear shapes of the valley appear partially hidden by the trees, so the viewer can only reconstruct them through the gaps between trunks. This fragmented view is suggestive, as it allows imagining a much wider 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 features a soft, rounded silhouette. Its blue-gray tones convey distance and serenity, contrasting with the earthier and 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 sets a natural horizon behind the agitation of branches and shrubs.

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

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

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

The clarity of the sky allows the finest branches to stand out with special sharpness. Its dark forms rise and split against the blue background, creating a delicate lattice. Some branches end in small buds, dispersed leaves or golden shapes that seem to announce the rebirth of the trees. This opposition between the naked structure and the appearance of new life constitutes one of the most poetic aspects of the scene.

The lighting seems softly spread across the landscape. There is no single zone bathed in direct glow, but a diffuse clarity that gradually reveals the colors of the vegetation. The yellows of 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 conveys a notable sense of movement. The branches open and cross in multiple directions; the undergrowth colors constantly change; and the tree crowns seem to respond to a light breeze. Nature feels active, even if 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 provide 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 fluidly, allowing the viewing to move from nearby plants to the sky and then back toward the mountains.

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

This solitude does not convey abandonment, but calm. The scene invites imagining the silence of the valley, interrupted only by wind among the branches, birdsong or the movement of dried leaves. The viewer may feel integrated in the landscape, observing 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 atmosphere of the painting. The trees are still bare, recalling the austerity of winter, while the yellows and greens of the ground announce the arrival of spring. This coexistence between end and beginning turns the landscape into a representation of change. Nature appears suspended between two states, preserving the memory of the 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 recover color and vitality. The mountains, serene and unmoving in the distance, contrast with the changing cycle of plants and trees, symbolizing permanence in the face of transformation.

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

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

In sum, the work represents a mountainous landscape at a seasonal transition moment, with trees still bare rising over abundant and colorful vegetation. The greens, yellows, ochres, and reds of the foreground contrast with the serene blues of the mountains and sky, while the open branches create an ascending and dynamic rhythm. The clarity of the valley, the density of the forest on the right and the delicate appearance 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 awakening of the earth and the beauty of that moment when winter begins to yield to the arrival of a new spring.