Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje

Infobox Artist
bgcolour = #EEDD82
name = Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje


imagesize = 170px
caption = Jordi Pagans
birthname = Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje
birthdate = Birth date and age|1932|4|18|mf=y
location = El Masnou, Barcelona, Spain
nationality = Spanish
field = Painting, Drawing
movement = Figurative, Realistic

Biography

Artistic Tradition

Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje was born in El Masnou (Barcelona), April 18, 1932. Son of Alfred Pagans i Llauró and Clara Monsalvatje i Iglèsias, both coming from families of a long and rich artistic tradition which included members such as the guitar player and singer Llorenç Pagans i Julià (1838-83), brother of his grand grandfather, and good friend of Wagner and Edgar Degas' father. In several Degas’ paintings, the "chanteur Pagans" is portrayed alongside with the painter's father.

Also, his grandfather, Francesc Monsalvatje i Fossas (1853-1917), developed important historical studies about the ancient Country of Besalú. Not to forget his uncle Xavier Monsalvatje i Iglèsias (1881-1921), writer and painter, and finally his cousin Xavier Montsalvatge i Bassols (1911-2002), who is considered the most important Catalan composer of his generation.

Artistic career

Jordi Pagans began painting in 1948. In 1950 he studies with Saturo López and assists to night classes in the School of Fine Arts of Barcelona. In 1956 he works in the "atelier" of Josep Roca Sastre, whose teachings and orientation are decisive in his formative years. The paintings of this period show that Pagans was already a master expressing the essentials, using as his own the concepts of impressionist and cubist schools. In 1955, he spends a couple of months in Paris, visiting the "Louvre" and the "Jeu de Paume" Museums, walking and taking sketches of the great Parisian avenues and boulevards.

. In 1961 his work is shown for the first time in the "Club dels Quatre Vents" in Paris. The Ateneu Barcelonés shows his work in January, 1962. Since then, his work has been exhibited continuously till the present (currently he is exhibiting in Girona).

In the 60's he keeps a close friendship with painter and historian Rafael Benet i Vancells (1899-1979) whose teachings were decisive. Rafael Benet enjoyed sharing time with young artists and considered Pagans one of his very favourites. The group that gathered at the café-restaurant "El Glaciar" of the Ramblas in Barcelona included Benet, Pagans, Humbert, Prim, Pruna and Alfred Figueres, among others. In 1963 he takes part of the "Realitat Visual" group, whose ideas about painting may be summarised as: "painting should be a never-ending state of crisis between intelligence and the sensible as well as between knowledge and the feeling of reality".

Along these years (1963-1965), Jordi Pagans knows the marvellous landscape of Cadaqués, which since that moment captivates him. This small town of the northern Spanish Catalan coast and the sites around it offer the artist a peculiar and structured landscape which reveals itself as a pre-existence of his own dreamed landscape. Already a solid context of masses is characteristic of his paintings, and furthermore, the quiet and broad sense of the figurative and realistic composition, which his work has developed since then.

Artistic Style

. Pagans i Monsalvatje sees painting as a personal interpretation of the artist but capable of arriving to the onlooker through a never-ending state of crisis between knowledge and the feeling of reality.

Through his career, Jordi Pagans has worked and investigated with different materials to paint his urban and Mediterranean landscapes and still lives. He has arose not only as an oil painter but also as a drawer, watercolorist, pastel and gouache painter. Not to forget his graphic work done in a great diversity of techniques but fundamentally etchings.

Exhibitions

Awards

1956"Real Círculo Artístico" award, Concourse of new painters, Barcelona council

1959 Young painting award "Rafael Llimona", Sala Parés, Barcelona

1967 Honor diploma "XI Salon de Mayo", Barcelona

1968Second prize in the painting concourse "Vila de Centelles"

1969 Third position in the Vallès art meeting, GranollersFirst position in thepainting concourse "Vila de CentellesSecond position in the "National" concourse of Amposta

1972 "María Grifé" award, VII Concourse "Vila de Palamós"

1974 "Ministerio de la Vivienda" prizeIX Concourse "Vila de Palamós"

1975"María Trías" award (in memorial), "Vila de Palamós"

1980 "Ciudad de Huesca" diploma, IV Biennal Nacional de Huesca

1982Special mention (Official diploma), Sala de Avignon, FranceHonorifical mention in the VIII Biennal of Vilafranca del Penedès

References

Bibliography

* Diccionari Biogràfic Contemporani. Ed. Círculo de Amigos de la Historia. Madrid, 1970

* Centenari del [http://www.cec-centre.org/ Centre Excursionista de Catalunya] . Homenatge dels Artistes Catalans. Ed. Centre Excursionista de Catalunya. Barcelona, 1976

* [http://www.grec.cat/cgibin/hecangcl.pgm?NDCHEC=0048190&PGMORI=E Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, vol. 11. Ed. Enciclopèdia Catalana.] Barcelona, 1978

* Espinàs, J.M.: Visions de Cadaqués. 33 gravats de J. Pagans i Monsalvatje, pòrtic de Jordi Benet i Aurell. Ed. Gabinet d'Art, Grup 33. Olot, 1978 (edició de bibliòfil)

* Diccionari "Ràfols" de Artistes de Catalunya, Balears i València. Ed. "La Gran Enciclopèdia Vasca". Barcelona, 1979

* Pagans Monsalvatje. Biblioteca "Maestros actuales de la pintura y escultura catalanas", vol. 45. Jordi Benet. Ed. "La Gran Enciclopèdia Vasca". Barcelona, 1979, 52 Pág.

* Fontbona, F.: El Paisatgisme a Catalunya. [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ediciones_Destino Ed. Destino] . Barcelona, 1979

* Tharrats, J.J.: Cent anys de pintura a Cadaqués. Ed. Cotal. Barcelona, 1981

* Amir, X.: Els pintors de la Costa Brava avui. Ed. Xavier Amir. Barcelona, 1982

* Santos Torroella, R. (Dir.): Enciclopèdia Vivent de la Pintura i l'Escultura Catalanes, vol. VII. Ed. Àmbit. Barcelona, 1985

* Portada de la "Revista Gal. Art", Barcelona, no. 14, may 1985

* Plana, M. (Dir.): Homenatge a Josep Pla. Ed. Miquel Plana. Olot, 1989 (edició de bibliòfil)

* Sabata Serra, X. (Dir.): Guia d' Art 1991. Ed. Art Book 90 S. L. Barcelona, 1991

* Coromina, V. (Dir.): 90 Artistes dels 90. Ed. Art Invest. S.A., Genève, 1992

* Sabata Serra, X. (Dir.): Guia d’Art 1994. Ed. Art 85 S.L. Barcelona

* Encuentro con el Arte: Pintores y escultores Espanyoles. Ed. Angélica Guevara. Barcelona. 1995

* Sabata Serra, X. (Dir.): Guia d’Art 1995-1996. Ed. Art 85 S. L. Barcelona

* Historia de L’Art Català: Segle XX Volumen IX. Ed. 62. Autor F.Gutierrez

* Cent Paisatgistes: Josep Mª Cadena. Edicions Vicens Coromina. Barcelona, 1997

* Artistes del 99: Edicions Vicens Coromina. Barcelona, 1999

* Pintores y escultores: Encuentro con las artes. Ed. Angélica Guevara. Barcelona, 2000

* Figures: Josep Mª Cadena. Edicions Vicens Coromina. Barcelona, 2000

* Artistas y Pintores de España. Edició Vicens Coromina. Edicions d’Art 2001

* Interiors: Josep Mª Cadena. Edicions Vicens Coromina. Barcelona, 2003

External links

* [http://jordipagans.com/pgs/ Jordi Pagans i Monsalvatje - Life and Art]