RUBÉN VIDAL | "LULU" | CONTEMPORARY REALISM | MIXED MEDIA ON WOOD

An intimate work by Rubén Vidal (1970), an internationally renowned artist (Berlin/Spain) and a prominent draftsman, whose mastery of line engages here with the rawness of the wooden support.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

This piece, titled "Lulu," is a masterful example of the artistic language of Rubén Vidal (Alcañiz, 1970). Trained at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Seville and through periods of study in Italy and Berlin, Vidal is an artist who has transcended academic realism to explore the expressiveness of matter. In this work, the artist abandons the conventional canvas to work on a solid wood panel, a conscious choice that connects with his research on organic supports (such as his celebrated works in alabaster). The wood grain is not concealed; it becomes the model's skin, integrating the natural with the artistic.

The technical execution demonstrates the skill of a top-tier draftsman (his work has been featured in prestigious competitions such as the Penagos Drawing Prize). Vidal constructs the figure using a mixed technique that combines the boldness of charcoal or graphite with painterly glazes that "stain" the atmosphere, creating an unfinished effect highly valued in contemporary art collecting. The hands and feet, rendered with precise and dynamic anatomy, show that the blurred central figure is an aesthetic choice, not a technical deficiency.

The work possesses a timeless, almost melancholic quality, characteristic of the Spanish figurative art that triumphed in Europe at the end of the 20th century. The passage of time has added a patina of oxidation and signs of dampness ( foxing ) to the surface, which, far from detracting from its value, accentuate its character as a "lived object," aligning it with the Wabi-Sabi aesthetic where imperfection is synonymous with beauty and truth.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY?

• The Signature (Artist's Value): Rubén Vidal is not an amateur painter. He is an artist with an international career (with a studio in Berlin and exhibitions in Luxembourg and Spain) and advanced academic training. Owning one of his works means possessing a piece by an artist with a proven institutional and market track record.

• Drawing Quality: The work is a lesson in anatomy and sensitivity. Vidal's ability to suggest volume with few lines (a legacy of his training in the Sevillian and Italian schools) places this piece far above standard decorative painting.

• Unique Support: In contrast to the fragility of canvas, this large-format (120x78 cm) work on solid wood has an imposing physical presence. It is a structural, heavy, and robust piece, ideal for those seeking art with substance.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Author: Rubén Vidal (Alcañiz, 1970).

• Education: Fine Arts (Seville), Applied Arts (Zaragoza/Italy).

• Title: "Lulu" (Title on gallery label on reverse).

• Technique: Mixed media (Graphite, Charcoal and Oil/Acrylic) on wooden panel.

• Dimensions: 120 x 78 cm.

• Signature: Handwritten in the lower right corner.

• Provenance: Private collection (with previous cataloging label).

• Condition: Vintage / As is . The piece exhibits widespread foxing and varnish oxidation, as well as superficial wear to the wood. It is sold as a piece with patina, considering these marks as traces of time on the organic support.

• Guarantee: 14-day money-back guarantee.

THE WORKSHOP NOTE

We selected "Lulú" because it represents Rubén Vidal's most intimate and powerful side. It's rare to find large-format works on wood that maintain such delicacy in their brushwork. We are fascinated by how the artist, also known for his work as a musician and sculptor, applies a sense of rhythm to the composition: the silence of the seated figure contrasts with the visual "noise" of the wood's texture. It's a work for a collector who values ​​Spanish figurative art with soul , beyond mere sterile perfection.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work is delivered accompanied by a technical sheet prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying the biographical review of the author and our technical inspection.