Autoretrat amb boina blava i xalina (Self-portrait with Blue Beret and Cravate)

"Ramon Casas worked on his own physiognomy more than any other artist of his generation. His dedication allow us to enjoy a series of wonderful self-portraits which he rendered at different stages in his life and evolve to show us his most intimate personality. One of the testimonies of this stage is the work at hand. The model is depicted in an almost frontal position, turned slightly towards the right, with a beard and moustache, and with his eyes gazing steadily at the viewer. His head is covered with a large beret, an element which is in no way random but instead necessary to achieve the main purpose sought by the artist: the effect of a slight shadow, a way to “paint the illuminated shadow”. The painter is interested in highlighting the upper part of the face, a space that he frames with a thicker line than the rest, creating an effect that allows him to attach more importance and intensity to sight. In this work, Casas yet again stands out as a colourist. The same tone used for the base is also used to paint the clothing, with additions of dark touches. This tone, dabbed wherever necessary, is what dominates the painting, and the red blotch of the cravat and the green of the beret stand out from it, two complementary colours applied with the intention of having them stand out from the whole. (Museu del Cau Ferrat, Sitges, 30144)"