Joan Barbarà Spain, 1927-2013

This unique work by Joan Barbarà is a vibrant example of his creative freedom within the still life genre, where the artist reveals an intimate and experimental vision. In this piece, Barbarà combines techniques and tangible elements to create a composition that moves between the pictorial and the objectual.

The white tablecloth, real and physically integrated into the stretcher, brings texture and depth, becoming a stage-like surface upon which the other elements rest. Against this sober, domestic backdrop, three apples painted in oil emerge: two green and one red, depicted with an expressive yet nuanced brushstroke full of light and variation.

The most unexpected and symbolically charged detail is the chess piece — the pawn — precisely placed as if it were a silent actor within the still life. This figure may be interpreted as a metaphor for play, for strategic movement, or as a humble symbol that contrasts with the solemnity of other artistic elements. In this context, the pawn gains an unexpected poetic strength.

The composition reflects Barbarà’s interest in experimentation, in fusing mixed media, real objects, and oil painting into a proposal that maintains the essence of a perfectionist printmaker, yet allows itself the freedom to break the rules. This work was reinvented by Virgili Barbarà in 2025, in a gesture of continuity and preservation of his father's creative legacy.

With this piece, Joan Barbarà reminds us that a still life can be much more than a natura morta: it can be a living space for storytelling, visual play, and artistic freedom.