Boîte de sardines

Painted the same year that Barcelo returned to Cap Farruxt, Boîte de sardines's content and aesthetics both reference the artist's Spanish homeland. The subject of sardines represents Mallorca, the artist's island home, and is a token of the larger, recurring theme of the sea in his work. The highly textured and dynamic surface of the painting recalls the rugged landscape of the Majorcan region. Often labelled as a neo-expressionist painter, Barceló nonetheless defies classification. Similar to his other paintings of deserts, glaciers and still lifes, Barceló manages to evoke the physicality of his subjects, bringing them to life for the viewer to experience directly. The artist's special command of colour, light, and texture thus merge to create a distinct atmosphere - one that is uniquely Barceló.