GUILLEM FRESQUET | FEMALE PORTRAIT WITH COMB | EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION | GOUACHE ON CARDSTOCK

An original work by Guillem Fresquet that documents his facet as a graphic illustrator through a powerful use of pigment and chromatic contrast.

HISTORY AND CURATORIAL ANALYSIS

The depiction of the figure and editorial aesthetic

Guillem Fresquet (1914-1991), usually recognized for his landscape production within the Agrupació d’Aquarel·listes de Catalunya, approaches the female figure in this piece from a visually graphic perspective. The work moves away from traditional academic portraiture to embrace the language of mid-20th century illustration. The artist depicts a woman in the everyday act of styling her hair, capturing the character's attitude with a close-up shot that enhances direct impact on the viewer and documents the fashion and aesthetic canon of his time.

The architecture of the stroke and the use of opaque pigment

Upon analyzing the material execution, it is evident that the work is resolved through gouache or opaque tempera, distancing itself from the transparent watercolor technique. Fresquet applies color with dense and energetic brushstrokes. The strong complementary contrast between the background, structured with directional green brushstrokes, and the warmth of the flesh tones, the red comb, and the pink blouse, stands out. The use of pure white pigment is fundamental in this composition: it is applied directly and texturally to create the highlights of the blonde hair, the points of light on the face, and the volume of the jewelry, demonstrating firm control over the plastic resources of graphic arts.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Thematic Rarity (Illustrator's Facet): Although Fresquet is widely recognized for his seascapes and urban landscapes, his works focusing on the human figure with this level of detail are unusual. This piece allows for the incorporation of a different and highly plastically valued record within the author's production.

• Visual and Chromatic Power: The choice of gouache gives the work exceptional chromatic saturation and visual weight. The vibration of greens against intense magentas and reds makes the composition a striking focal point, breaking with the traditional soft palette of watercolor landscape painting.

• Contemporary Aesthetic: The treatment of the face, hairstyle, and palette directly refers to the visual culture of the mid-20th century. It is a piece with a strong pop and advertising character, an aesthetic in high demand among collectors focused on historical design and illustration.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Author: Guillem Fresquet (1914 – 1991).

• Title / Theme: Female portrait with comb (Graphic Illustration / Genre Scene).

• Technique and Support: Original gouache / opaque water technique on cardstock.

• Documented Dimensions: 34 x 24 cm.

• Style / Movement: Editorial Illustration / Mid-Century Aesthetic.

• Provenance: Private collection.

• Condition: Excellent. The support is stable, and the pictorial layer maintains its chromatic saturation, the opacity of the whites, and the original high contrast intact.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

In collecting original graphic work, mastering opaque pigment requires the artist to sculpt light by superimposing dense layers of color. Fresquet achieves this in this cardstock with an energetic pulse and an unforgiving palette, moving away from subtlety to seek direct visual force. This portrait is a demonstration of technical versatility; a documented acquisition, designed to bring chromatic strength and a touch of historical design to the walls of a discerning collector.

Collector's Dossier Included: This work is delivered with a research study, technical sheet, and curatorial context prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research and known provenance.