FRANCIS PICABIA (1879-1953) BARCELONA, 1937 Oil on panel Signed lower left Dated and located "Barcelone" lower right Oil on panel; signed lower left; dated and located "Barcelone" lower right 85 X 69,5 CM - 33 7/8 X 28 IN. The Picabia Committee has confirmed the authenticity of this work. A certificate, dated March 2025, will be given to the buyer. PROVENANCE Private collection, France. In 1937, the world was plunged into a period of growing tension, marked by the expansion of totalitarian regimes throughout the world, particularly in Europe. Spain was not spared by the rise of fascism, as the country was in the throes of a devastating civil war that had begun a year earlier. This geopolitical context, the atmosphere of violence and political repression, had a profound influence on the work of artists of the period, including Francis Picabia. True to his approach of breaking with established artistic forms, Picabia took a stand against the Spanish Civil War and the rise of authoritarian regimes. In 1937, he painted Barcelona in Barcelona itself, in this particular political and artistic climate, marking a turning point in his work. The year 1937 marked Picabia's entry into what is known as his Green Period. This creative phase, which began at the end of the 1930s, was characterised by a profound sense of disillusionment with world events. It followed on from the Transparencies series, in which Picabia explored superimpositions of transparent and coloured layers, creating visual effects of depth and movement, while challenging the perception of space and reality. As his name suggests, the colour palette of his green period is dominated by green and metallic hues, evoking a dark and pessimistic vision of the world, while at the same time exuding a mystical aura. The colour, initially metallic, takes on a patina reminiscent of old enamels over time, giving the work an aspect that is both timeless and singular. This stylistic evolution is reflected in Picabia's innovative technique. He superimposed layers of metallic or silver paint on blue backgrounds before working on the figure with dark, greenish colours. This layering process produces cracks and organic textural effects, creating a unique visual impact. This experimental method, which incorporates the accidents of the material, bears witness to the artist's willingness to accept the unexpected and give her works an almost living dimension. Born of a French mother and a Spanish father, Francis Picabia was not indifferent to the Spanish Civil War, although he did not expressly state his position. Barcelona follows the same dynamic as The Spanish Revolution (1937), offering a critical view of the war and its ravages. The work, created in this context, resonates with the violence of this tumultuous period. Marked by the characteristics of the Green Period, it is distinguished by a unique technique combining metallic layers and greenish hues, creating a striking depth and texture. The young girl, with sunken cheeks and an accusing gaze that seems to defy us, folded in on herself with clasped hands, inevitably evokes The Mexican, a painting done in the summer of 1937 in the same political context. Her miserable state suggests submission or deep despondency. He is probably a victim of the conflict. Replacing the mythological figures of earlier works, this figure embodies a humanity shattered by war. The artist illustrates the passage of time through two key elements framing his central figure. On the left, the palm tree symbolises a happy, carefree past, while on the right, the stele cross presages a bleak, pessimistic future. This contrast highlights the opposition between a bygone past and an uncertain future. Barcelona becomes an emotional response to the human tragedies of war, while retaining a fragile, enigmatic beauty in its composition. Although stylistically different, this work shares with its predecessors the desire to capture the tormented soul of the time, reinforced by the innovative use of colour and texture characteristic of Picabia's experimental style.