Ramón Casas (1866–1932), Spanish, Ramón Casas y Carbó, a prominent Spanish painter, was born on January 4, 1866, in Barcelona, and passed away on February 29, 1932. Renowned for his portraits of the social, intellectual, economic, and political elite of Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris, Casas was also a skilled graphic designer whose posters and postcards helped shape the concept of Catalan modernism. His early education in art began in 1877 under Juan Vicens Cots, after leaving school. By 1881, he co-founded the magazine L'Avenç and made his first trip to Paris, where he studied under Carolus-Duran and Henri Gervex, while also serving as a correspondent for L'Avenç. His artistic journey was marked by a blend of Spanish and French influences, spending autumns and winters in Paris and the rest of the year in Spain, primarily in Barcelona but also in Madrid and Granada. Casas's work evolved to include detailed crowd scenes, notably a bullfighting scene in 1886, which showcased his ability to capture the vibrancy of public gatherings. Surviving tuberculosis that same year, he convalesced in Barcelona, where he formed significant friendships with artists like Santiago Rusiñol, Eugène Carrière, and Ignacio Zuloaga. His collaboration with Rusiñol on the book 'Por Cataluña (desde mi carro)' in 1889 highlighted his deep connection to Catalan culture and landscapes. Casas's legacy is not only in his portraits but also in his contribution to the modernist movement, making him a pivotal figure in Spanish art history.
Sunlight dapples the Spanish countryside, casting long shadows across the path to Sant Benet de Bages. The brushstrokes blur fields and sky, leaving just enough detail to hint at the monastery’s quiet presence beyond the hills. A warm breeze seems to rustle through the olive trees.
