Josep Llimona's Grief: Masterpiece of Catalan Modernisme

Historical Context and Chronology

Chronology: 1907.

The year 1907 was characterized by the political crises of the Restoration. Until 1907, the government was liberal. This year saw the ultimate Carlism and the first crisis of the Pact of El Pardo. During this period, the population of Spain increased by almost one-third, with people migrating to areas with developing industry.

The Artist: Josep Llimona

Joan Llimona had a brother, Josep, who was a painter and sculptor. They founded the Artistic Circle of Saint Luke, which was guided by a Christian ideology. The artists belonging to this association were contemporary with Modernisme, but they did not share its advanced ideas; instead, they held a Christian ideology with a strong moralizing tone. Josep Llimona was influenced by Auguste Rodin, who in turn was influenced by Michelangelo. He was also influenced by the Symbolists. Llimona conceived the female form as an emerging mass of living matter, much like Michelangelo and Rodin had done. Thus, the sculpture represents flowing material, relating in some way to the symbolism of the origin of life.

Style and Characteristics of the Work

The work is considered a masterpiece of the modernist and symbolist school of Saint Luke. The characteristics of these modernist forms include undulating, curvilinear rhythms, removed from the pedestal (without the "whiplash" line). Light is highly important because of how it interacts with the surface. As a funerary sculpture intended for a grave, it emphasizes the natural value of the material, which is why there is no polychromy. The original piece is preserved in the MNAC (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), while the one in Ciutadella Park is a replica.

Technical Specifications

• Technique: Carving (height)
• Material: Marble
• Form: Free-standing (exempt)
• Typology: Seated
• Chromaticism: Monochrome

Formal Analysis

• Composition: Proportionate, featuring an axis of symmetry and an uneven play of light and shade.
• Rhythm: Slow and harmonious, if any.

Iconography and Interpretation

• Religious: No.
• Origin: The personal state of mind of the author, who had become a widower and sought to express his sadness.
• Interpretation: Idealistic.

Meaning and Function

Meaning of the Work: The theme reflects a profound sense of grief through the figure of a young woman collapsed over a stone block. The girl's hair covers her face, allowing the expression of her sadness to be conveyed through a torso with muscles completely devoid of tension or force.

Function of the Work: Aesthetic. It helps us understand the art of Josep Llimona. The original is located in the MNAC, and the one in the Parc de la Ciutadella is a replica. Its function remains the same, even though society is changing.