Alvarer — Ruins of Empúries, Costa Brava, mid-20th century — watercolor on card stock

Original watercolor signed "Alvarer," likely created in the mid-20th century, depicting a view of the Greco-Roman ruins of Empúries on the Costa Brava in Girona. The composition combines classical architecture, Mediterranean landscape, and the presence of several human figures in a luminous scene characterized by color transparency and spontaneous execution.

In the foreground, a female figure is shown from behind, dressed in a blue blouse and dark trousers, contemplating the horizon while holding a hand to her forehead. Scattered around her are ancient stone blocks, small clusters of reddish flowers, and Mediterranean vegetation. A column with a classical appearance, located on the right side, introduces a vertical element that organizes the composition, accompanied by several green and dark-toned cypress trees.

In the middle ground, two small figures walk among the archaeological remains, while buildings with reddish roofs extend toward the coast. Beyond them lies a wide expanse of blue sea, bordered by a mountain range on the horizon. The sky, treated with transparent washes of bluish and grayish tones, occupies a good part of the scene and provides a sense of spaciousness and atmospheric clarity.

The work stands out for the balance between figurative drawing and the freedom of the watercolor washes. The artist combines fluid brushstrokes and areas of paper left blank with more concentrated pigment applications, especially visible in the vegetation, architectural elements, and the characters' clothing. The contrasts between the blue of the sea, the greens of the cypresses, the ochres of the stones, and the reds of the flowers give the whole piece a rich chromatic harmony.

The treatment of the composition presents characteristics close to the 20th-century tradition of landscape watercolor and travel illustration, with special attention to the Mediterranean atmosphere and the integration of the human figure into the landscape.

The work is signed "Alvarer" in the lower right corner. On the reverse, it retains the handwritten inscription "Ampurias / Costa Brava," which allows for the identification of the depicted location. At present, there is insufficient biographical information to establish the artist's full identity.

Technical Data Sheet

• Author: Alvarer (signed; biographical identity undocumented).

• Title: Ruins of Empúries, Costa Brava.

• Date: Mid-20th century, estimated.

• Technique: Watercolor.

• Support: Cardstock.

• Dimensions: 28 × 22 cm.

• Signature: Signed "Alvarer" in the lower right corner.

• Inscriptions: "Ampurias / Costa Brava," handwritten on the reverse.

• Location depicted: Archaeological site of Empúries, L'Escala, Girona.

• Theme: Mediterranean landscape, classical architecture, and figures.

• Period: 20th century.

• Conservation status: Generally acceptable condition, with good visual preservation of colors. Presents slight aging and darkening of the margins, as well as small brown spots consistent with foxing, especially visible on the reverse.

Workshop Note

One of the most interesting aspects of this watercolor is the way it combines the archaeological heritage of Empúries with an everyday scene of landscape contemplation. The female figure from behind draws the viewer into the composition, while the classical column and cypress trees establish a visual contrast between the ancient structures and the Mediterranean vegetation.

The work also stands out for its treatment of color, especially in the washes of the sky and sea, which contrast with the more intense brushstrokes used for the flowers, figures, and plant elements.

The handwritten inscription on the reverse provides additional documentary interest by expressly identifying the depicted enclave, one of the most significant archaeological complexes on the Catalan coast.