Camins 1996

Joan Hernandez Pijuan made this painting, Camins, with lines, probably in the latter part of the twentieth century. The lines are like paths, as the title suggests, and I find the simplicity of the colour palette and the directness of the mark making here really appealing. Looking closely, you can see how the paint is applied in layers, building up a surface that's both textured and quite raw. The lines themselves aren't perfect; they wobble and vary in thickness, giving the piece a handmade feel. Notice how the lines converge and diverge, creating a sense of movement and depth. There's a real physicality to the medium here, a sense of the artist's hand at work, almost like the image has been carved into the surface. Agnes Martin comes to mind. Both artists share a similar interest in the grid and the subtle variations within it. This painting invites us to slow down, to observe, and to find beauty in the simplest of forms. It’s like Pijuan is showing us that art doesn’t always need to shout; sometimes, it can whisper.