Attributed to Joaquim Mascaró i Vinyets — Coppélia, 1956 — watercolor and gouache on cardstock

Original watercolor dated 1956, attributed to the Catalan architect, draftsman, and painter Joaquim Mascaró i Vinyets (Barcelona, 1911–1988), depicting a scene inspired by the ballet Coppélia, featuring a ballerina in the foreground and a set of figures and theatrical architectural settings.

The composition centers on a female figure performing a dance pose on pointe, with one arm raised and her skirt flared to the side. The costume is notable for its ornamental richness: a deep blue bodice with white lace, a full-skirted dress, and a striking apron decorated with plant motifs and red birds. The representation combines the precision of drawing with a spontaneous and expressive application of color.

The architectural background, built with broad bluish and gray washes, evokes a scenographic space with Central European inspiration. The secondary dancers appear merely sketched, creating a contrast between the finish of the protagonist and the more synthetic treatment of the surroundings. This difference in execution provides depth and movement to the scene, while reinforcing the work's theatrical illustration quality.

The painting is executed in watercolor with probable applications of gouache, with drawn lines defining the face, anatomy, costume, and architectural elements. The combined use of transparencies and opaque colors allows for effects of lightness in the fabrics and a special chromatic intensity in the ornamental details.

The work bears the handwritten title "Coppelia" and features a personal dedication accompanied by a signature consistent with "Joaquim Mascaró" and the date 1956.

Coppélia, a ballet premiered in Paris in 1870 with music by Léo Delibes, is one of the fundamental works of the classical repertoire. Its presence in Barcelona is particularly significant during the spring of 1956, when the Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas performed the pas de deux from its third act at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Although no direct relationship between this watercolor and that production has been documented, the chronological coincidence allows it to be situated in a context of significant international ballet activity in the city.

About the artist

Joaquim Mascaró i Vinyets (1911–1988) was a Catalan architect, painter, and draftsman, who graduated from the Barcelona School of Architecture in 1942 and pursued an artistic career alongside his professional path.

His participation in the Salons of University Artists of Barcelona in 1935 and 1936 is documented in historical repertoires of Catalan exhibitions. Among his known graphic works are the portrait of Josep Puig i Cadafalch made in Argentona in 1942, preserved in the National Archive of Catalonia, and his architectural drawings, some of which are part of the collections of the Escola Tècnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona.

He also participated as a draftsman in art history publications, including volume IX of Monumenta Cataloniae, published in 1956. His pictorial activity spanned decades, with exhibitions documented as late as the eighties.

The attribution of the present work is supported by the reading of the signature, the chronological concordance, and Mascaró's documented artistic activity, although it remains subject to definitive verification through comparison with autographed signatures.

Technical Sheet

• Author: Attributed to Joaquim Mascaró i Vinyets (1911–1988).

• Title: Coppélia.

• Date: 1956.

• Technique: Watercolor with probable applications of gouache and ink or pencil drawing.

• Support: Cardstock.

• Dimensions: 32.5 × 24 cm.

• Signature: Handwritten inscription in the lower right margin, legible as "Joaquim Mascaró".

• Inscriptions: Title "Coppelia", handwritten dedication, and the date 1956. A second, partially faded inscription in the lower left margin.

• Subject: Ballet, classical dance, and theatrical illustration.

• Period: Mid-20th century.

• Condition: Shows aging of the support, small foxing spots, wear, and surface alterations in the lower part of the composition. On the reverse, there are remnants of old fixings and pencil annotations. The main image retains good legibility and chromatic richness.

The Workshop Note

This watercolor stands out for its combination of figurative drawing, costume ornamentation, and architectural setting—elements that take on special interest when considering Joaquim Mascaró's artistic and architectural training.

The protagonist is rendered with a level of detail noticeably superior to that of the secondary figures, which gives the work the freshness of a pictorial study without sacrificing a fully recognizable composition.

Its 1956 date, the theme linked to Coppélia, and the handwritten dedications make the piece an interesting testament to the visual culture of ballet in the mid-20th century. The attribution to Mascaró remains open to future documentary verification.