CARME NAVARRA PRUNA | THE LADY OF THE HAT | CONTEMPORARY PORTRAIT | MIXED MEDIA

CARME NAVARRA PRUNA | THE LADY IN THE HAT | CONTEMPORARY PORTRAIT | MIXED MEDIA

A work that breathes the nostalgia of the Belle Époque with the delicacy of contemporary Catalan brushwork.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The Mastery of Figurative Elegance

Carme Navarra Pruna (Barcelona, 1947) takes up the mantle of the great Catalan figurative tradition and brings it to a realm of poetic intimacy. In The Lady in the Hat, the artist uses a profile portrait — a classical formula that grants nobility and detachment to the subject — to explore femininity with respect and utmost sophistication. The young woman, framed by the striking presence of a wide-brimmed hat, becomes an archetype of timeless elegance, recalling the visual cadence of the Belle Époque but resolved with a distinctly contemporary aesthetic sensibility.

Visual Narrative and Material Texture

A detailed analysis of the surface reveals Navarra Pruna's mastery in superimposing disciplines. The work is based on a very fine graphic foundation that creates an optical vibration, evoking a grainy or pointillist quality in the background and bust. It is upon this subtle structure that the artist manually intervenes with pastels, performing an alchemy of color: the pink tones of the floral ornamentation, the greenish echoes of the leaves, and the warm flesh tones of the face elevate the piece, endowing it with a volume and breath that transcend the two-dimensional plane.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Exhibition Dialogue: This work shares scale, technique, and framing with The Sweetness of the Gaze (a frontal portrait by the same artist). Acquiring both pieces allows the collector to articulate a powerful diptych on femininity, contrasting frontal innocence with the mysterious elegance of the profile.

• Material Richness: The confirmation of the mixed media technique through direct manual intervention gives the work a unique value. The interaction of pastel pigment with the porosity of the support generates undeniable visual warmth.

• Aesthetic Potential: The subtlety of its execution and timeless theme make it a versatile decorative accent. It is a serene piece that brings light, elegance, and an air of classic romanticism to any space.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

• Artist: Carme Navarra Pruna (Barcelona, 1947).

• Title / Theme: The Lady in the Hat (Portrait of a woman in profile with a floral headdress).

• Period: Contemporary Art (Catalan School).

• Technique and Support: Mixed media (graphic base with manual pastel and pigment intervention) on textured art paper.

• Dimensions: Work: 32 x 23 cm | With frame: 52 x 43 cm.

• Signature and Inscriptions: Signed by hand "C. Navarra Pruna" in the lower left corner.

• Provenance: Private collection.

• Condition: Good. Stable support and pigments. Presented with a mat and careful framing in noble wood with a gilded fillet, ready for display.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

The distinguishing value of this profile lies in the physical confirmation of its mixed media technique. Observing the piece up close, the apparent flatness of the graphic base disappears to give way to the relief and warmth of the hand-applied pastel. This direct intervention on the floral detail and skin transforms the work, giving it the human pulse and artisanal mastery characteristic of Navarra Pruna, all preserved by classic framing of excellent craftsmanship.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This artwork comes with a technical sheet and historical context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research and known provenance.