XAVIER UBACH | MARINA IN CARMINE (MONOCHROME STUDY) | ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR | LYRICAL ABSTRACTION

XAVIER UBACH | CRIMSON SEASCAPE (MONOCHROME STUDY) | ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR | LYRICAL ABSTRACTION

The delicacy of wind and sea captured in an unreal monochromatic atmosphere.

CURATORIAL HISTORY AND ANALYSIS

The challenge of monochrome and lyrical abstraction

In this exceptional piece, Xavier Ubach invites us on a direct journey into lyrical abstraction. The marine landscape here sheds all accessories, all narrative anecdotes, to reveal its purest essence. Through self-limitation to a strictly monochromatic palette—based on an intense and vibrant carmine or magenta tone—the artist achieves an atmosphere of profound reverie and serenity.

The silhouettes of the three sailboats, rendered with fluid, vertical, and confident brushstrokes, seem to emerge like mirages from a luminous haze. There is no defined horizon line; the sky and sea merge into a single atmospheric entity, creating a sense of slow movement that inherits the spirit of the great Romantic seascapes but is resolved with a language of absolute modernity.

The behavior of water and the noble support

Technically, the work is a triumph of the expansion of the aqueous medium. The choice of high-quality cotton paper is not accidental; its texture allows the watercolor to work almost autonomously, creating subtle gradients, expansions, and glazes that simulate the reflection of light on water. Ubach demonstrates his mastery by allowing the "reserves" (the raw white of the support) to breathe and become the powerful focal points of light that tear through the sky.

WHY IS THIS PIECE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR COLLECTION?

• Monochrome Erudition: Restricting the palette to a single color is one of the most demanding exercises for a painter, as it forces the artist to build depth and volume solely through the intensity of the stain. It is a piece of high intellectual caliber for collectors of graphic art.

• Bibliophilia Quality (Deckle Edges): The support is a noble watercolor paper that proudly displays its natural "deckle edges" (irregular edges) on the left and upper margins, a tactile characteristic highly coveted in the market for works on paper.

• Established Signature: The work bears the clear autograph signature "XAVIER UBACH" in the lower right corner, guaranteeing the authorship of a reputable figure from the contemporary Catalan School.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Xavier Ubach (Terrassa, 1932).

• Title / Theme: Crimson Seascape / Sails in the Fog (Lyrical Abstraction / Seascape).

• Estimated Period: Second half of the 20th century.

• Technique and Support: Original fluid watercolor (monochrome) on heavy cotton paper with visible deckle edges.

• Documented Dimensions: Approx. 16 x 23 cm (Horizontal cabinet format).

• Signature and Inscriptions: Hand-signed with brush "XAVIER UBACH" in the lower right corner.

• Style / Movement: Lyrical Abstraction / Catalan School.

• Provenance: Private collection / Gallery collection.

• Condition: Excellent archival quality. The carmine pigments retain formidable saturation and contrast. The support is sound, free from oxidation or structural damage.

THE WORKSHOP'S NOTE

Painting the sea without using blue is a statement of intent. Ubach doesn't want us to see the water; he wants us to feel the humidity, the breeze, and the immensity of the space. This monochrome seascape is a highly sophisticated visual refuge, designed to enrich the walls of a discerning collector who values synthesis and the boldness of contemporary brushwork.

Includes Collector's Dossier: This work comes with a research study of the piece, prepared and printed by El Taller del Coleccionista, certifying our research and the known provenance.