After Pau Macià i Pons — Mother and son with toys — 20th Century — Ink and color on paper

Figurative illustration on paper, cataloged as "After Pau Macià i Pons (1917–1980)," depicting a family scene featuring a woman and a child surrounded by small toys. The composition retains a "Macià" signature in the lower right corner and the annotations "P. Macià 1951" and "Ràfols 2/347" on the reverse.

The scene shows a woman sitting next to a child in a domestic interior, sharing a moment of play around a table. Various children's figures appear on it, among which a small animal on a circular base, a human figure, and a decorative rooster stand out. In the background, a dresser topped with a vase of flowers completes the setting.

The drawing is notable for the fluidity and expressiveness of its black outlines, combined with delicate applications of color in shades of blue, yellow, green, and red. The simplification of volumes, the stylized treatment of the faces, and the balanced distribution of the elements link the composition to the tradition of mid-20th-century Catalan illustration.

The depiction of the toys and the small details of the furniture is especially interesting, contributing a narrative and everyday character to the scene. The combination of vigorous black strokes and softly colored areas builds an image of remarkable graphic sensitivity.

The piece is presented under the designation "After Pau Macià i Pons," since its autograph nature has not been conclusively determined. The composition and the preserved inscriptions allow it to be related to the artistic universe of the Catalan illustrator.

About the referenced artist

Pau Macià i Pons (Les Borges Blanques, 1917 – Barcelona, 1980) was a Catalan painter, illustrator, poster artist, and muralist who developed an extensive career linked to the graphic and decorative arts.

He trained at the Escola Massana in Barcelona, an institution where he later worked as a painting professor starting in 1946. His artistic activity included editorial illustration, poster design, mural painting, mosaics, and stained glass.

During the 1930s to 1950s, he created illustrations and covers for various Catalan literary publications, developing a graphic language characterized by the stylization of figures, the expressiveness of the drawing, and the selective use of color.

Among his notable works are his proposals for the 1952 International Eucharistic Congress of Barcelona, as well as various decorative projects for religious buildings and public spaces in Catalonia.

Technical sheet

• Authorship: After Pau Macià i Pons (1917–1980).

• Title: Mother and child with toys.

• Period: 20th century. Inscription dated 1951.

• Technique: Black ink and color washes, according to visual examination.

• Support: Paper.

• Dimensions: 18.5 × 15 cm.

• Signature: "Macià," in the lower right corner of the composition.

• Inscriptions on the reverse: "P. Macià 1951" and "Ràfols 2/347."

• Conservation status: Apparent good general condition, with slight surface signs of handling and small marks on the reverse. The composition and its colors are preserved in good visual condition.

Workshop Note