Joan Barbarà Spain, 1927-2013

Biography

Joan Barbarà was one of the great master printmakers of the 20th century and a central figure in the revival of printmaking as a contemporary art form. Over more than five decades, he collaborated with some of the most renowned artists of his time, including Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí, Antoni Tàpies, Pierre Soulages, and Francis Bacon.

Barbarà approached printmaking not as a secondary medium but as a refined artistic language in its own right. He mastered both direct and indirect engraving techniques and constantly expanded the expressive possibilities of the medium through experimentation with carborundum, mezzotint, and aquatint. His practice combined traditional craftsmanship with innovation, always guided by an acute artistic sensibility and deep respect for each artist’s creative vision.

In 1974, he founded the historic Taller 46 in Barcelona, a workshop that became a hub for artistic collaboration and technical excellence. There, Barbarà created and published hundreds of editions in partnership with artists while also mentoring new generations of printmakers. His precision, creativity, and collaborative spirit established him as one of the most trusted and respected figures in modern and contemporary printmaking.

Today, his legacy continues through the ongoing activity of Taller 46, directed by his son Virgili Barbarà, and through the exhibitions and collections that preserve and celebrate his invaluable contribution to the art of engraving.

PARIS AND THE BEGINNINGS OF A LIFE DEVOTED TO ART

In the early 1950s, Joan Barbarà moved to Paris, where he became immersed in the vibrant artistic scene of the postwar avant-garde. The city, then the international capital of modern art, offered him the perfect environment to refine his technical skills and artistic vision. Between 1956 and 1963, he worked at the renowned Atelier Lacourière, founded in 1929 by Roger Lacourière, a master printer who had established the workshop as a bridge between traditional intaglio printing and the artistic vanguards. The studio was internationally acclaimed for its collaborations with artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, and Alberto Giacometti, who found there an atmosphere of technical excellence and creative freedom.

Within this environment, Barbarà perfected techniques such as etching, aquatint, mezzotint, and drypoint, and absorbed a philosophy that would guide his entire career — the idea of the printmaker as both a technical master and a creative interpreter of the artist’s vision. In 1957, Jacques Frélaut joined as Lacourière’s partner, and the atelier became known as Lacourière-Frélaut, continuing to set the international standard for fine art printmaking until its closure in 2008.

Beyond the workshop, Barbarà was deeply inspired by Parisian cultural life — the cafés of Montparnasse and Montmartre, the bohemian gatherings of artists, writers, and musicians, and the vibrant exchanges that animated the city. It was in this stimulating context that he met Joan Miró, beginning one of the most meaningful artistic collaborations of his life. Paris was not only a place of training for Barbarà, but the foundation of a lifelong devotion to elevating printmaking to its highest expressive potential.

Selection of Artworks by Joan Barbarà (more than 3000 pieces available).

Exhibitions

Store

Joan Barbarà
A mar revuelto ganancia de pescadores, 2012
Oil and Acrylic on wood
€ 20,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Estovalles, 2008
Ink and collage on engraving paper on canvas
€ 7,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
The Big Fish , 2008
Acrylic, acrylic spray, collage on engraved background, unique piece.
€ 24,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Vitralls, 2008
Collage on canvas
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Ángulo Amarillo, 2003
Collage and mixed media on canvas
€ 7,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Composición I, 2003
Ink and collage on engraving paper on wood
€ 1,500.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Panorama Collsacabra, 2001
Engraving, etching and original retouches by the artist
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Ampolles de licors, 1999
Collage sobre madera
€ 5,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 141, 1999
Ink and collage on engraving paper on wood
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón ST, 1999
Ink and collage on engraving paper
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Escacs y copa, 1999
Engraving and collage on paper and canvas
€ 4,500.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Sin título (Bodegón abstracto), 1997
Mixed media (printmaking, collage, ink, and pigments)
€ 7,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 24, 1996
Ink and collage on engraving paper
€ 1,800.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 26, 1996
Ink and collage on engraving paper
€ 1,800.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 30, 1996
Ink and collage on engraving paper
€ 2,500.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 35, 1996
Ink and collage on engraving paper
€ 1,800.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 67, 1996
Ink and collage on engraving paper on canvas
€ 4,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Retrato de Francisco de Goya, 1996
Engraving
€ 600.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Toro Goyesco, 1996
Engraving
€ 600.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Liceu Cremat (amarillo), 1994
Etching
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Liceu Cremat (azul), 1994
Etching
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Liceu Cremat (gris), 1994
Etching
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Liceu Cremat (negre), 1994
Etching
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Liceu Cremat (rojo), 1994
Etching
€ 6,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Retrato de Pamen Trenkle, 1993
Engraving and original retouch by the artist
€ 4,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 1, 1991
Engraving and collage on paper and canvas
€ 15,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 2, 1991
Engraving and collage on paper and canvas
€ 15,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Roques de l'Empordà, 1991
Engraving and etching on paper
€ 1,500.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Roques de l'Empordà (color), 1991
Engraving and etching on paper
€ 1,800.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Les Llimones, 1990s
Engraving and original retouches by the artist
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Palau Alfabia en Mallorca: Jaume I, 1986
Oil on Canvas
€ 4,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Palacio de Mallorca, 1984
Oil on canvas
€ 4,000.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Vista de la Costa Brava, 1980s
Oil on canvas
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Palacio Alfàbia, Mallorca, 1978
Oil on canvas
€ 4,000.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón 32, 1977
Oil on canvas
€ 7,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Panorama Empurdanés, 1977
Engraving and etching on paper
€ 1,200.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Costurera, 1976
Oil on canvas
€ 2,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Jarrón con flores y mantel, 1974
Oil on canvas
€ 3,500.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Interior de la casa de Joan Barbarà de la Calle Zaragoza en Barcelona, 1969
Oil on canvas
€ 5,000.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Regata, 1967
Mixed media on paper
€ 1,600.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Regata 2, 1967
Mixed media on paper
€ 1,600.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Río Sena París, 1967
Oil on canvas
€ 1,000.00Sold
Joan Barbarà
Pez, 1963
Chinese Ink on paper
€ 1,800.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón con uvas II, 1961
Engraving and collage on paper and canvas
€ 4,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón al Peón, 1960s
Oil, collage and mixed media on canvas
€ 9,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Retrato de Pamen Trenkle y Tristán Barbarà, 1950s
Oil on canvas
€ 20,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
A l'hora baixa (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
A l'ombra de les Savines , 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
A plec dels nous Estadans, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Arribada al Port (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Camí (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Camí a Pormany, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Camp d'Oliveres, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Carreró (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Casa Típica (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Coberta d'Estelons (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Collita (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Contrallum (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Contrast (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Cruïlla de Camins, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
El Port des de Dalt Vila, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Encoriosides (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Entrada per mar (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Escales de Dalt Vila (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Galería de Pilastres, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Interior, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Les Àvies (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Les Feixes (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Lluna Plena, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Marges dels Estelons, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Mur (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pagesia a dos estatges, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pagesia entre Muntanyes, 1949-2008
Engraving
Sold
Joan Barbarà
Passeig vers a Pormany (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Planura de Formentera (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Propses Feixes (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Revolt de Camí, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Sorral (Publicado en Eivissa), 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Visió d'Eivissa des de Formentera , 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Visió des de Formentera, 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Visió des del Puig de Molins , 1949-2008
Engraving
€ 300.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Bodegón con juego de té , 1940-1950
Oil on canvas
€ 3,500.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Begur
Oil on canvas
€ 2,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Cadaques
Oil on canvas
€ 1,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Costa Brava
Oil on canvas
€ 2,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
La Costa Brava
Oil on canvas
€ 3,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pez (azul oscuro)
Engraving
€ 750.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pez (colorful)
Engraving
€ 750.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pez (gris)
Engraving
€ 750.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Pez (Negro)
Engraving
€ 750.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold
Joan Barbarà
Vistas desde Costa Brava
Oil on canvas
€ 2,000.00 Excluding taxes and shippingSold

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Joan Barbarà Spain, 1927-2013

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