This piece, dated 1995, represents a mature stage in the career of Gerard Sala (Tona, 1942 – Badalona, 2024), a central figure in the Catalan avant-garde with a strong presence in institutions such as Sala Parés and Galería Joan Prats. “Paisatge amb fulles al vol” exemplifies how Sala brings abstraction and nature together through textures, volume and a vibrant colour palette.
Materiality as a language
The distinctive character of this work lies in its complex material execution, which goes beyond traditional painting. Sala used handmade paper from the emblematic Molí paperer de Ca l'Oliver (Sant Quintí de Mediona) as the support. This richly textured handmade base supports a mixed-media technique combining two-screen screenprinting (pink and blue), hand-applied pastel in a range of intense colours (blues, yellows, reds and greens) and a collage of ten handmade papers individually dyed by the artist.
The composition is distinguished by an ethereal dynamism. The artist creates a background suggesting an atmospheric landscape, above which organic forms float. This combination of layers —screenprinted, painted and the relief of the collage— gives the piece a tactile quality and a depth that standard graphic reproductions do not possess.
Technical details
Artist: Gerard Sala (1942–2024).
Title: “Paisatge amb fulles al vol” (1995).
Technique: Screenprint on handmade paper, worked with hand-applied pastel and a collage of ten irregular handmade papers.
Dimensions: Work: 61 x 102 cm | Frame: 72 x 114.5 cm.
Signature: Signed in pencil “Gerard Sala” in the lower right corner.
Documentation: Edition statement (5/33) and handwritten technical description on the reverse, validated with a notarial signature and seal.
Condition: Excellent. Colour, volume and textures remain intact.
The Taller Note
Green and turquoise papers project from the pink ground, casting shadows along their irregular edges. Blue branches and winding lines cross the surface, connecting the suspended forms. The contrast between the flatter screenprinted base and the relief of the collage changes the composition when viewed at close range.
