CaixaForum is a social and cultural center located in one of the main modernist buildings in Barcelona designed by Catalan architect Puig i Cadafalch.
It was originally a textile factory and it is considered a important reference in Catalan industrial modernist architecture from the beginning of the 20th century. The building was acquired by “La Caixa” bank in 1962 but it wasn´t until the nineties when restoration works started to adapt the building to its current use. The restoration project featured the participation of architects such as Arata Isozaki, Francisco Javier Asarta, Roberto Luna and Robert Brufau.
CaixaForum has showcased important art exhibits from outstanding contemporary artists. Just recently this cultural center opened an exhibition dedicated to Goya and Delacroix.
Among the numerous important works displayed in this temporary CaixaForum exhibition it´s The Clothed Maja, one of Goya´s most relevant paintings. Along the not so recognized works is the etching called The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, a valuable piece of Caprichos , a collection of works showing Goya´s personal critical point of view on 18th century society.
This particular piece is regarded by some art critics as one of the very first sparks which would ignite and shape modern art rhetoric. Goya is also considered the first modern artist of his time. His idea that the emotion transmitted by the artist in the painting is more important that the subject itself is one of the fundamental traits in modern art.
The Delacroix exhibition displays important works of the artist considered the main French progressive modernist exponent of his era.
Argel Women 1834 , Delacroix
Goya and Delacroix paintings will be shown in CaixaForum until mid-June and mid-May respectively.
