Montse Vives | "Eight Bicycles" | Mixed Media on Canvas

An original work by contemporary Catalan artist Montse Vives Roig. Through a distinctively panoramic format, this piece combines a palette of warm tones with continuous line drawing to capture the dynamism and everyday life of eight figures on bicycles.

History and Curatorial Analysis

The Stroke as Language

The visual core of this work lies in the synthesis of the drawing. The eight figures that make up the bicycles are rendered with a continuous, fluid black line, executed with a fluidity reminiscent of Oriental calligraphy. As detailed in the documentation accompanying the work, the artist uses "almost calligraphic strokes" to create "characters that are staged," born from the direct observation of everyday life. It is an exercise in geometric reduction where complexity is summarized in a single gesture.

Structure and Mixed Media

To contrast with the organic fluidity of the bicycles, the background is structured with a geometric grid. The support is worked with a mixed media technique that, according to the author's manifesto, usually integrates acrylic, watercolor, and India ink. This combination creates complex visual textures and luminous transparencies, using earth tones, yellows, and oranges that imbue the canvas with great atmospheric warmth.

Why is this piece an opportunity for your collection?

• Documented Authenticity: The canvas retains its original certificate of authenticity on the reverse, hand-signed by Montse Vives Roig, specifying the work's title and technique.

• International Trajectory: The reverse of the piece documents a solid exhibition curriculum for the artist during the 90s and early 2000s, with itinerant shows in key European cities such as Paris, London, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Madrid.

• Decorative Format: Its panoramic proportions (41 x 92 cm) make it an architecturally versatile work, ideal for visually structuring elongated spaces, hallways, or for display above low contemporary design furniture.

Technical Data Sheet

• Artist: Montse Vives Roig.

• Title / Theme: "Vuit Bicicletes" (Everyday Scene / Synthetic Figurative).

• Technique and Support: Mixed media (acrylic, watercolor, and India ink) on original canvas.

• Dimensions: 41 x 92 cm.

• Signature and Inscriptions: Vertically signed ("M Vives") in the lower right corner of the front. On the back, it features printed text with her curriculum and the handwritten and signed certificate of authenticity.

• Provenance: Secondary art market. Private collection.

• Condition: Excellent. The canvas tension is correct, and the mixed pictorial layer shows no losses or discoloration, retaining the full intensity of its warm pigments.

• Inspection Guarantee: 14-day guaranteed return to inspect the work in person and verify its pictorial quality.

The Workshop's Note

This piece by Montse Vives is a clear example of how contemporary Catalan art approaches everyday life from an optimistic and technical perspective. The most interesting aspect is the tension between the rigid background, almost like a wall of chromatic bricks, and the tremendous lightness of the black bicycles that seem to float above it. As it is a work on a stretcher that does not require glass, the viewer can directly appreciate the matte texture of the pigments. It is a direct, cheerful acquisition with impeccable documentary support thanks to its reverse.