ANTONIO SANTOS | AMÀLIA'S STREET (2/20) | ORIGINAL ETCHING | CONTEMPORARY GRAPHICS

ANTONIO SANTOS | EL CARRER DE AMÀLIA (AMÀLIA STREET) (2/20) | ORIGINAL ETCHING | CONTEMPORARY GRAPHICS

The lyricism of asphalt and the memory of Barcelona. A rare, intimate edition intaglio print that captures the soul and silence of the Raval neighborhood with the resounding mastery of the National Illustration Award winner.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

Urban Melancholy and El Raval

Antonio Santos (Luesia, 1955) is an undisputed master in constructing complex realities through the utmost economy of line. In this evocative print, the artist abandons the rural landscape to transport us to the heart of Barcelona, specifically to one of the historic streets of the Raval neighborhood: "CARRER DE AMALIA" (as handwritten in pencil by the artist himself).

The work is an exercise in poetic introspection. Santos captures a moment of urban stillness that oscillates between historical document and dream. The perspective guides us through a street flanked by the solid doorways and semicircular arches characteristic of old Barcelona architecture. The inclusion of a man in a hat walking away in the foreground, alongside the silhouette of a vehicle disappearing in the background, imbues the scene with an undeniably cinematic quality.

Intaglio Atmosphere and Texture

The etching technique here allows Santos to explore sensations that linear drawing cannot achieve. The bare branches of the trees reach up, scratching a masterfully textured sky (likely through aquatint or dense stippling) that immerses the scene in an overcast, twilight atmosphere. It is the artist's "cultivated primitivism" brought to its most melancholic expression.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Radical Exclusivity (Edition 2/20): This is an extremely limited edition. The handwritten annotation 2/20 in the lower left corner places this print in the "rarity" graphic category, guaranteeing genuine scarcity in the secondary market.

• Territorial Connection (Barcelona): Works by established artists that portray specific streets and atmospheres of Barcelona's urban history are in strong, nostalgic demand, making them highly sought-after by foundations and local heritage collectors.

• Material Presence: The deep "plate mark" that presses the drawing into the cellulose attests to the vigor of traditional hand printing, elevating the piece to a high bibliophile object.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Antonio Santos (Luesia, Zaragoza, b. 1955).

• Title / Theme: El Carrer de Amalia / Amàlia Street, Barcelona (Urban Landscape / El Raval).

• Technique and Medium: Original intaglio print (Etching) printed on heavy-weight drawing paper.

• Documented Dimensions: Plate mark (Graphic area): Approx. 15 x 12 cm.

• Edition and Inscriptions: Copy number 2/20, titled "EL CARRER DE AMALIA" and signed in pencil "ANTONIO SANTOS" in the lower margin.

• Style / Movement: New Spanish graphics / "Cultivated primitivism".

• Provenance: Private collection / Gallery fund.

• Condition and Curatorial Note: Print with excellent ink contrast. Archive note: The cellulose support shows characteristic marks of foxing (small circular spots of natural paper oxidation) visible in the lower margin below the inscriptions. This organic patina attests to its age as a graphic document and does not diminish the strength of the central image.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

In this print, Santos achieves what many novelists seek in hundreds of pages: capturing the loneliness of a great city. To own this extremely rare copy (number 2 of only 20) is to treasure a fragment of Barcelona's literary and historical asphalt, executed by one of the fundamental names in contemporary illustration.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work comes with a research study, prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our curation and known provenance.