Portrait of a Woman

The lady averts her eyes from the gaze of the spectator, gently resting her chin on her hands. Her dress, makeup and hairstyle are drawn from the in-vogue fashion of 1930s Europe, characterizing the portrait’s subject as fashionable. She is undeniably attractive: her skin has an immaculate plasticity to it; her makeup is fashionable and perfectly applied; her hair is not one strand out of place.

This portrait is a depiction of 1930s feminine perfection: a lady who is attractive, fashionable, and yet also modest. Her averted gaze and her arms being closed over her body hint at demureness. In this way, the painting can be interpreted as representing the appearance and behaviour of the ideal traditional 1930s woman.

The pose and appearance of the sitter exude beauty, gentleness, and grace, creating an air of sophistication and elegance.

Luis Muntane Muns

Luis Muntane Muns was born in 1899 in the town of Mataro, Catalan. When he was 12, he commenced his study at the School of Fine Art in Barcelona, where he became apprenticed to Spanish artist Jose Mongrell. Muns regularly participated in the Barcelona Art Exhibition, before travelling to study in Italy when he was aged 27.

In 1930, Muns held his first solo exhibition at the Syra Galleries in Barcelona. He married the painter Teresa Condeminas, who is also known for her portraits of women. Between 1940 and 1969, Muns served as the Professor of Life Drawing at his alma mater of the School of Fine Art in Barcelona, and directed the establishment between 1945 and 1948. In 1968, he was appointed to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando. Muns passed away in 1987.

Muns is best known for his portraits of women, whether they are clad in luxurious dresses or poised in emotive gestures. He regularly employed chiaroscuro in his works, as seen in this portrait’s utilisation of contrasting areas of light and dark. Muns’ art is believed to have been inspired by the Catalan noucentisme movement of the early 20th century, which sought to elevate and beautify reality - in this portrait, the woman’s attractive and immaculate appearance can be interpreted as Muns’ representation of the ideal female. Noucentisme sought to create an objective and timeless approach to painting, using inspiration from the classical period and ensuring compositions were balanced, simple, and modest. The demure demeanor of the sitter for this portrait can be seen as Muns engaging with the noucentist ideal of composure. Additionally, muted colours were perceived as ‘balanced’ by noucentist artists, with the palette of this portrait adhering to this ideal by utilising muted greens, greys, and browns - even the sitter’s lipstick is a softened red. This combination of noucentist ideals and Muns’ love for chiaroscuro combines to create a portrait of a lady that exudes elegance and sophistication.