Josep Barrenechea — Male portrait (1972) — Charcoal on paper

A psychological study of light and shadow.

Technical details

• Artist: Josep Barrenechea Tubilla (Barcelona, 1908–1991).
• Title: Male portrait.
• Year: 1972.
• Technique: Charcoal on paper.
• Dimensions: 48 × 32 cm.
• Signature: Signed “Barrenechea” in the lower right corner.
• Provenance: Private collection.
• Condition: Good.

The portrait and the line

Josep Barrenechea Tubilla was no amateur: he was a figurative painter who exhibited at Barcelona’s renowned Salons de Primavera in the 1930s (1933–1937) and at the Saló d’Independents in 1936. He belonged to a generation of accomplished artists who kept classical figuration alive through the turbulent decades of the 20th century.

The sitter is shown bust-length in three-quarter view, with swept-back hair, a moustache, a jacket and a tie. Charcoal shadows define the eyes, nose and cheeks, while parallel strokes describe the lapels and shoulders. The light background sets off the outline of the head and the silhouette of the suit.

The Taller Note

The curved lines of the hair contrast with the slanting strokes of the jacket. On the face, the shading is denser around the eyes and beneath the nose and chin; the light areas of the forehead and cheeks give volume to the head. The drawing opens out towards the edges of the shoulders, where the strokes remain separate and leave the paper visible.