Son of a leading painter, Modest Urgell, who he himself called a patum, he undertook a search for his own style and treatment of colour and light inherited from French impressionism. Shortly before the creation of this interior composition of the female figure, he had his first solo exhibition at the Sala Parés in 1917. Ricardo Urgell’s main subject was the world of entertainment, particularly the stage, and he was attracted by the theatre, circus and ballet. One of the media he used was photography, and a group of photographs of models that he commissioned from Francisco Sierra has been preserved. His father-in-law, the photographer Antoni Esplugas, also provided him with models (chorus girls, couplet singers and dancers) that he portrayed. The proliferation of spaces dedicated to the performing arts occurred at the turn of the century when more public space was gained and some squares were urbanised. The year 1918 was important for both the artist and the artistic world in Barcelona, as the city council began to organise official exhibitions once more, creating the annual Art Exhibition.

Year 1918

Oil on canvas

94x76 cm,

Ricard Urgell Carreras, 1874 - 1924