ARNAU, Joaquim

Joaquim Arnau Auqué (Barcelona, 1902 - 1980) was a notable self-taught Catalan painter and watercolorist, framed within 20th-century figurative and genre landscape painting in Catalonia. A regular participant in post-war Catalan avant-garde projects, most notably "Dau al Set", alongside renowned artists such as Joan-Josep Tharrats, Antoni Tàpies, Joan Ponç, Joan Brossa, and Modest Cuixart. He stood out mainly for his mastery of watercolor, a technique in which he developed a fluid, clean wash with great chromatic transparency, combined with a strong foundation in drawing. His output focused on views of Barcelona's old town (the Gothic Quarter, El Born, La Rambla, and public parks), as well as seafaring and marine scenes along the Catalan coast. His work is characterized by a poetic and serene vision of everyday reality, subtly capturing the nuances of Mediterranean light and the atmosphere of mid-century Barcelona. He actively participated in the Catalan exhibition circuit through private collections and traditional art galleries in Barcelona specializing in 20th-century figurative painting.