Ramon Casas

Ramon Casas was an important figure in the Post-Impressionist era, particularly in Barcelona’s thriving avant-garde scene. Highly influential to the younger generation, most notably to a young Pablo Picasso, introducing them to Impressionism and Symbolism, with which he was most aligned.

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Born into a wealthy family, Casas was talented from a very early age, studying at the Collegio Carreras before moving to Paris, at the age of just 15 in 1882, to study with Carolus-Duran.  Despite moving back to Spain he frequently travelled to Paris becoming friends with Utrillo, Rusiñol and Zuloaga, among many others.

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In 1897 Casas founded the influential bar, Els Quatre Gats, in Barcelona, modelled on Le Chat Noir in Paris, which soon became a hub for the modernista avant-garde. The bar hosted 'tertulias', informal meetings where they discussed and refined their aesthetic ideas and other wide-ranging topics, alongside revolving art exhibits, including one of Picasso's first one-man shows.

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Known mostly for his portraits, Casas drew and painted the intellectual, economic, and political elite of Barcelona, Paris, Madrid. The present work has all the charm and flair for which Casas became famed. Although a posed portrait there is still a sense of drama and theatre, through the sitter’s knowing look and powerful side-eye glance. It's not fully known who this gentleman is, both the artist himself and a young Picasso have been suggested, this mystery, however, adds to the appeal of this enigmatic man.

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Casas exhibited at the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, becoming a member in 1903, and was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur. His work was shown in numerous exhibitions and competitions and won various distinctions, notably at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes, a first-place medal in 1904, as well as receiving distinctions abroad, including gold medals in Berlin, Munich and Vienna.

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