Barblan 1965 Fantasia a Caballo Painting
Signed: Oscar Barblan
Heavily textured oil painting
Framed: 31" x 24"
Painting: 26" x 20"
Oscar Barblan is born in Siena, Italy, in 1909 as the son of emigrated Swiss parents from the Grisons. After studying at the Art Academies of Siena and Perugia, he relocates to Paris for three years in 1930, where among others he attends the Academy of Montparnasse. The City, with its intoxicating atmosphere, and the contact to the Avant-garde fascinate the young painter. However, he lacks the inner peace necessary to develop his own art. When approached about this time period, he would later reply: "I always thought that my works were too advanced for a simple or commercial painter, but not enough to be a leader in the art field."
Afterwards, he moves on to the island of Mallorca and roams on foot, with only canvas and paint as baggage. To survive, he works here and there as a cook. The renowned art critic Lionello Venturi wrote about this time: "For Barblan on Mallorca, the discovery of colours was an exercise in exuberance." After his first solo exhibition in 1936 in Barcelona, the Spanish Civil War breaks out. However, before hastily leaving Spain, he assists Federico Garcia Lorca in saving works of art from destruction.
Following an invitation to England, he exhibits in London in 1938, where the "Times" particularly recognizes his solo exhibition. Here he undergoes his impressionistic phase and at the same time immerses himself into portrait studies, which enable him later – during his Basel years – to paint his portraits, esteemed by art critics and the public alike.
Info Gathered From:
http://www.oscar-barblan.ch/logicio/pmws/oscarbarblan__leben__en.html