Paisatge Urba Barcelona 1910 14 Pere Daura

The drawing presents a densely populated urban landscape, seemingly viewed from an elevated perspective. A cluster of buildings dominates the composition, their forms rendered with rapid, gestural lines that convey a sense of immediacy and perhaps even instability. The structures are layered upon one another, creating a complex visual hierarchy where individual elements are difficult to discern clearly; they merge into a collective mass.
The lower portion of the drawing is characterized by darker tones and more chaotic linework, suggesting an area of cramped dwellings or possibly a hillside settlement built into the terrain. Above this, buildings rise in height, exhibiting architectural details such as balconies and windows, though these are sketched with a looseness that prioritizes overall form over precise representation. A tall tower punctuates the skyline, its presence asserting dominance within the urban sprawl. To the right of the central mass, a more skeletal structure – possibly an unfinished building or a framework for future construction – adds to the sense of ongoing development and transformation.
The artist’s use of hatching and cross-hatching creates tonal variations that define form and suggest depth, though the overall effect is one of atmospheric haze rather than sharp clarity. The paper itself appears aged and worn, with visible imperfections contributing to the drawings textural quality. This aging lends a sense of history and perhaps even melancholy to the scene.
Subtly embedded within this depiction of urban density are hints of social commentary. The cramped conditions suggested in the lower portion might allude to poverty or overcrowding. The unfinished structure could symbolize ambition, progress, or the precariousness of urban development. The lack of human figures contributes to a feeling of anonymity and detachment; the city is presented as an impersonal force shaping lives rather than a place inhabited by individuals. Ultimately, the drawing captures not just a physical space but also a mood – one of bustling activity tempered by a sense of unease or perhaps even alienation within the modern urban environment.