Joan Torres de Torres (1953) - Venecia

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Torres de Torres, depicting a quiet urban canal surrounded by old buildings and vegetation, whose shapes are reflected on dark and silent waters. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

• Unframed dimensions: 61x50x2 cm.
• Oil on canvas handwritten signature by the artist on the back of the work.
• The piece is in good conservation condition.

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 an indicative mockup; there may be differences from the actual item in color, scale and details.

The painting 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 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 suggestive urban scene organized around a canal that winds between old buildings until it disappears into the distance. Water occupies the center and most of the composition, becoming the element that unites façades, vegetation, sky and shadows through an extensive surface of reflections. The scene conveys a sense of silence and contemplation, as if the city had paused for a few moments and only the slow movement of the water remained.

The perspective leads the eye from the bottom up to the narrowing of the canal in the background. The two banks advance diagonally and progressively approach, creating an intense sense of depth. This visual journey invites the viewer to follow the course of the water and imagine what streets, bridges or urban corners might lie beyond the buildings that partially close the view.

On the left side, there is a narrow elevated promenade that accompanies the canal. Its light surface contrasts with the dark water and seems to be bounded by a small wall. The path curves gently as it moves toward the background, disappearing behind a dense mass of vegetation. This combination of architecture and nature softens the harshness of the constructions and brings freshness to the urban environment.

The vegetation beside the promenade forms a dense set of green, gray and bluish tones. Its irregular canopies project toward the canal and seem to partially hide the buildings behind. The lighter areas suggest leaves touched by light, while the deeper greens create shadow spaces. This vegetative strip establishes a beautiful contrast with the warm façades rising on the opposite bank.

On the right side, a succession of old buildings rises with walls descending directly to the water. The façades display an attractive range of ochres, earth tones, pinks, browns and grays, accompanied by lighter areas that look worn by time. The dark windows are distributed at different heights and disrupt the continuity of the walls, suggesting silent interiors full of history.

Some constructions show upper floors in warm tones, with rows of narrow windows repeated in an orderly fashion. Other façades are simpler and feature small openings near the water surface. The variety of heights, colors and proportions adds richness to the architectural whole and conveys the impression of a city that has grown slowly, accumulating buildings from different eras.

In the distance, the buildings seem to group and close around the canal. Their outlines become progressively less defined and adopt softer tones, creating an enveloping atmosphere. Some small green notes appear on balconies or windows, hinting at the presence of plants and domestic life. These details add humanity to the scene, even though no figures are seen strolling along the shores.

The water possesses a great chromatic depth and combines dark greens, blue-grays, browns, blacks and flashes of white. Fragmented images of the buildings and trees are projected on its surface. The vertical reflections of the warm façades mix with the deep shadows of the canal, while the light areas seem to collect the brightness of the sky. This overlap makes the water a changing and mysterious mirror.

At the bottom, the reflections become wider and more diffuse. A long blue-white central zone occupies the center, as if the sky had found a way through the shadows. Around it appear green and dark shapes related to nearby trees and buildings. The lack of rigid contours gives the water a soft, silent and slightly unreal appearance, enhancing the evocative character of the work.

The absence of boats and people reinforces the sense of stillness. The canal seems to belong to early morning or to a moment after rain, when the streets are empty and the humidity intensifies the colors. The viewer can imagine the faint sound of water against the walls, a distant echo from the houses, and the fresh air circulating between the façades.

The work establishes an interesting dialogue between the solidity of architecture and the changing nature of the reflections. The buildings represent permanence, memory and the passage of time, while the water continually transforms its shapes and colors. This opposition gives emotional depth to the scene and allows viewing it not only as an urban vista but also as an image linked to memory, quietness and the beauty of everyday life.

The overall atmosphere has an intimate and melancholy character. The subdued colors, soft lights and deep shadows create a sense of mystery without being unsettling. The canal functions as a silent path through the city, preserving fragments of everything around it on its surface. Each window, each wall and each tree seems to duplicate in the water and acquire a more fragile and poetic existence.

Overall, this painting offers a serene and deeply evocative vision of an urban canal flanked by ancient buildings and abundant vegetation, whose forms are reflected on dark and tranquil waters. The striking perspective, the richness of the reflections and the silent atmosphere turn the scene into an image with depth, nostalgia and mystery, capable of conveying the intimate beauty of a city contemplated from the water.