Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - Retrato

Pictura Galeria presents this magnificent artwork belonging to Miquel Torner de Semir, which represents a figure with a theatrical appearance who, seated beside a glass and a fruit, remains absorbed in their thoughts under an enveloping garden of flowers. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 92.5x73x2 cm.
· Oil on canvas hand-signed by the artist in the lower right corner, Miquel Torner de Semir.
· The piece is in good conservation condition.

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the included photographs are an integral part of the lot description.

The work 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 or GLS with tracking. International shipping available.

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This painting presents a solitary figure with a youthful appearance, seated in front of a small table and immersed in a state of deep reflection. The body occupies most of the composition, while the face, slightly tilted, becomes the emotional center of the scene. The person rests their head on one hand and directs their gaze to an undefined point, as if completely absorbed in what happens around them. The image conveys quiet, melancholy and a sense of inner pause.

The face appears in profile, partial, and stands out for its clarity against the dark background. The skin shows pale, bluish and pink tones, with small warm touches on the cheeks and around the lips. The eye, large and expressive, remains open and attentive, though it seems to look more inward than toward the external world. The small, reddish mouth reinforces the delicacy of the features, while the elongated nose and the defined contour of the face contribute an elegant and somewhat theatrical presence.

The dark hair is carefully gathered and adapts to the rounded shape of the head. Several curved lines run across its surface, organizing the hairstyle and creating a sense of volume. This sobriety contrasts with the richness of the clothing and with the large flowers placed at the top. The figure seems to belong to a universe situated between reality and fantasy, like a character from a stage performance who, during a break, stops acting and reveals an intimate emotion.

The pose is especially meaningful. One arm is raised to support the head, while the hand rests on the cheek and temple. The other arm seems close to the body, reinforcing the sense of isolation. This position, traditionally associated with waiting, sadness or meditation, allows imagining numerous thoughts behind the silent expression. The character could be recalling an absence, awaiting news, or simply letting themselves be carried by a moment of fatigue and contemplation.

The torso garment is formed by a succession of large blue and black squares that create an intense visual structure. These alternating blocks recall the outfit of a harlequin and give the figure a theatrical character. The blues range from dark, deep tones to brighter and more violet hues, establishing a strong contrast with the pallor of the face and with the white areas of the neck and sleeves.

Around the neck opens a large white collar, wide and pleated, framing the face as if it were a flower. Its various sections extend to the shoulders and create a luminous transition between the head and the dark suit. At the wrists appear similar, white and voluminous adornments that surround the arms and highlight the delicacy of the hands. These elements add elegance and solemnity, while emphasizing the stage presence of the character.

The combination of the geometric suit with the large light collar gives rise to an interesting opposition between rigidity and softness. The squares of the dress are firm, repetitive and structured, while the white folds open with greater freedom. This duality can be understood as a reflection of the figure's own emotional state: an exterior appearance striking and orderly that hides a fragile, silent and vulnerable inner world.

On the right is a round light-colored table. Upon it rests a delicate cup, depicted with grays, whites, and blues. The cup seems to contain a small amount of dark liquid and becomes one of the most defined objects in the scene. Its presence suggests that the figure is in a pause, perhaps after a celebration, a dinner or a performance, although the atmosphere is far from festive.

Next to the cup appears a round, intensely red fruit, possibly an apple. Its warm hue immediately draws attention and contrasts with the light surface of the table. This small fruit can be interpreted as a symbol of desire, knowledge, temptation, or simply as a mundane element accompanying the stillness of the character. Its simple and compact form visually balances the elongated silhouette of the cup.

In the lower left corner another light object is distinguished, similar to a crumpled napkin, a cloth or a discarded piece on the seat. Its informal arrangement adds naturalness and suggests that the scene was captured in a moment of rest. The figure seems to have temporarily stepped away from some activity, setting aside the objects that accompanied them to surrender to their thoughts.

The upper part of the painting is traversed by large vegetal shapes that envelop the scene. Two orange and reddish flowers stand out strongly among green, turquoise and bluish leaves. Their open corollas create points of light and color that contrast with the melancholic expression of the character. These flowers seem to float above their head like thoughts, memories or symbolic presences, adding a poetic dimension to the composition.

The flower on the left has red and pink tones, while the one on the right opens in brighter orange colors. Both are surrounded by curved and elongated leaves that interlace with the background. The vegetation does not form a recognizable garden, but a kind of ornamental frame that protects and encloses the figure. This fantastical environment reinforces the impression of an interior scene, built from emotions rather than a specific place.

The background combines browns, grays, dark greens, purples and bluish areas. These colors form broad, undefined spaces that do not clearly reveal where the character is. The absence of a clearly recognizable room or landscape concentrates all attention on the figure and its mood. The environment seems to transform according to the emotion of the viewer, potentially felt as a silent room, a stage, or an imaginary territory.

The composition establishes a contrast between the festive appearance of the outfit and the introspective attitude of the character. The checkered suit, the large white collar, the intense flowers and the red fruit could be part of a cheerful scene; however, the posture and gaze communicate contemplation and a certain sadness. This contradiction adds depth to the painting and raises the difference between what is shown on the outside and what is felt inside.

The figure seems to live a suspended moment in time. There is no obvious action or closed narrative, but the scene suggests that something has happened or is about to happen. The cup remains on the table, the fruit is intact and the character remains still, as if waiting to summon the courage to make a decision. The silence surrounding the image allows the viewer to imagine their own story.

Despite the melancholy, the work does not convey only sadness. There is also a sense of serenity, sensitivity and contemplative beauty. The character’s expression does not seem desperate, but deeply human. Their stillness invites stopping and recognizing those moments when a person withdraws from the outside world to listen to their own thoughts, remember the past, or understand their emotions.

In sum, this precious painting represents a figure with theatrical and delicate appearance, seated beside a table while silently reflecting under a surroundings filled with flowers and enveloping forms. The blue and black outfit, the large white collar, the cup and the red fruit build a mysterious scene in which elegance, melancholy and fantasy coexist. The work conveys the intimacy of a deep thought and suggests the contrast between an outward striking appearance and an interior world that is vulnerable, solitary and full of emotions.