The Colors of Catalonia: In the Footsteps of Twentieth-Century Artists (in English)
Synopsis "The Colors of Catalonia: In the Footsteps of Twentieth-Century Artists (in English)"
French and Spanish Catalonia boast an extraordinary cultural heritage. Their picturesque villages have inspired artists such as Henri Matisse, Aristide Maillol, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy, Salvador Dali, and many others. Forever linked to three major art movements - Fauvism, Cubism and Surrealism - Catalonia has played a critical role in the development of modern art. This narrative guidebook explores how Catalonia's landscape, culture and people influenced the early artistic development of now-legendary painters, sculptors, and writers. Readers will also discover for the first time the full details of Gauguin's mysterious visit to Catalonia in the summer of 1883. The Colors of Catalonia reveals personal anecdotes that capture the daily lives of the artists, exploring their motivations, their friendships, and their influences. The book's extensive research - done in French and English - includes exhibition catalogues, diaries, memoirs, and personal letters between the artists, their art dealers, and family members. The Colors of Catalonia also highlights the supportive role played by Catalan artists like Etienne Terrus, Gustave Violet, Ramon Pichot, Santiago Rusinol, and the art collector Gustave Fayet (in nearby Aude), whose talent, vision, and generosity deserve to be recognized. Certain excerpts from George-Daniel de Monfreid's diary - which has yet to be published - are available in English for the first time. (Paul Gauguin's closest confidant hosted Matisse at his home in Corneilla-de-Conflent, as well as Gauguin's widow and his son Jean Rene. In his diary, de Monfreid also gave insights into his relationship with his son, the well-known French writer and adventurer Henry de Monfreid.)
