Joan Miró: Woman and Bird (Dona i Ocell)

© All Rights Reserved

Woman and Bird (1982) known in Catalan as Dona i Ocell was included in an old post of mine back in March, 2006 (Joan Miró: A Photo in Pastel). It was a time when I didn't know much about publishing large pictures. I think this sculpture well deserves a second chance. Notice trencadis work in red, yellow and blue or the sexual symbology invoking fertility and strength associated with ancient Mediterranean cultures. Miró as you know was a painter, a sculptor and a ceramist. Barcelona 1893 - Mallorca 1983, a life of creativeness and innovation. Not fond of being classified he was defined as a surrealist by many and had Dada influences as well, maybe because he believed in the art of automatism, that is drawing or creating in a state of unconciousness or hypnosis, maybe we would call it improvising now. Please complete this succinct information with Joan Miró, Surrealism and Dada at Wikipedia. And then with all that fresh knowledge visit these two magnific sites: Joan Miró Foundation and Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation in Mallorca.

Technorati Tags:
barcelona photoblog|barcelona|barcelona photos|barcelona pictures|barcelona sculpture|barcelona photography|Joan Miró|Miró|surrealism

Google Maps View of Joan Miro Park
Google Earth Map Image of Joan Miró Parc or Parc de l'Escorxador in Barcelona.

If you liked it please vote

Paper Sculpture on Subway Vent at Paseo de Gracia

© All Rights Reserved

Walking along Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona I discovered this man reading and totally unaware of the marvelous paper sculpture billowing over a subway vent just like Marilyn's skirt in Seven Year Itch. The artist, roll in hand, smiles with complicity.

Technorati Tags:
barcelona photoblog|barcelona|barcelona photos|barcelona pictures|street artist|bw|blackandwhite

If you liked it please vote

Catalan Modernisme: Sant Pau Hospital's Ceiling

Catalan Modernisme and Hospital de Sant Pau are also themes commented in previous posts that you can explore on this site. This is an old cellphone picture. 

Gothic cross-vaulted ceilings used to house the administration department, kitchen and laundry in Sant Pau, not it is open to the public and patients were moved to the new hospital nearby.

Mirador at Pedraforca Massif

Pedraforca as you know is not a new topic in my posts. This impressive massif was previously dealt with in Landscapes of Catalonia:The Pedraforca Massif, Landscapes of Catalonia: Pedraforca , Climbing the Pedraforca Massif: June Post and Climbing the Pedraforca Massif: July Post. Some landscapes will help calm down the stress these first days of September.

Santa Maria del Mar Church: Door Detail

© All Rights Reserved

This a small door at Santa Maria del Mar Church which you can find along a side street. Soon I will show you a couple of front pictures of this marvelous gothic church in Barcelona and a detailed explanation about its history.

Technorati Tags:
barcelona photoblog|barcelona|barcelona photos|barcelona pictures|barcelona art|barcelona gothic|church

If you liked it please vote

Frederic Marès Museum Garden at Barri Gotic in Barcelona

Gardens of  the Royal Palace of Counts of Barcelona (Frederic Mares Museum)

This is an image of the garden in the old Royal Palace of Counts of Barcelona, at present Frederic Marès Museum.

Going along the narrow streets of Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), Comtes de Barcelona street in particular, you find the stairs down this patio adorned with a beautiful fountain in the middle of exuberant orange trees.

At the opposite end you find the entrance to the museum. Of course it is a recommended place to stretch your legs in the shade after a long walk in the old part of the city.

Frederic Marès Museum holds the most important collection of Hispanic sculpture from XII to XIX in Spain.

There's a fine collection of Romanesque and Gothic religious art.

Last but not less, you shouldn't miss the fantastic exhibition of antique children's toys.

Sightseeing in Barcelona: Las Golondrinas

This is a picture I took at Barcelona Port just in front of Columbus Monument in which you can appreciate one of Las Golondrinas, sightseeing ships you can board to travel along the coast.

For more information check the for tourist boat company address:
"Las Golondrinas" - "Sirenas SA"
Pl. Portal de la Pau, 1
08002 - Barcelona
Tel. +34 93 442 31 06

Sagrada Familia Mosaic and Happy BlogDay 2006!

With this colorful picture of a mosaic detail on one of Sagrada Familia spires by Gaudi, I wish you all a Happy Blogday2006 or 3108, a number that looks like the word Blog and a day in which you are supposed to share five links and then use tag blogday2006. It is some sort of social experiment supposed to expand the blogosphere, creating more interaction among bloggers. So here they are:

- Barcelona Photobloggers, the blog that represents and unifies the photoblog community in Barcelona.

- Mexican Pictures an impressive photoblog about different countries describing common people.

- Photoschau, a German photoblog with spectacular pictures.

- FotobyImran fantastic images posted from Singapore, Malaysia.

- Moodaholic, some other pictures that called my attention, from Denmark.

PS: Last Tuesday, August 29th Barcelona Photoblog was featured among other fellow bloggers in an article titled Ciudadano blog. Miles de bloggers de Barcelona copan con sus experiencias los diarios en internet by Borja Bujedo and Lucía Magí, published in La Vanguardia, an important newspaper in our country, edited in Barcelona. As it is the first time I ever appear in the papers or any media you can imagine how happy I felt. If the article has helped Barcelona or Spanish bloggers gain more recognition in the press and at the same time visitors got to know more about our daily work, it would be really rewarding. This could not have happened without all you people visiting me, thank you very much.

Update: I still remember this special event for Barcelona Photoblog. Thanks again for your support all these years!

Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona

Santa Caterina or Isabel II Market was the first covered market in Barcelona. It was built from 1844 to 1848, the name coming from the original convent over whose ruins it was raised as it was customary then. Recently, the old building has been remodeled (1997-2005) by architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue (EMTB) those who designed the Scottish Parliament. Here is Santa Caterina Market as seen from the other side, notice the wooden structure that covers the ceiling and the metal beams that climb up like branches. The colorful roof (325.000 tiles) emulating vegetable and fruit stalls has become one of Barcelona's landmarks, although it can only be appreciated fully in official pictures or if you tip someone in the neighbouring buildings. If you want to know more about Barcelona markets check The Market Route.

Google Earth View of the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona

Barcelona City Walls: Defense Tower

Back in the month of May I posted a picture about some wild flowers growing on one of the last preserved fragments of Barcelona City Walls, and I promised that further ahead I would show a more illustrative photo of the bulwark itself. So here you are, a defense tower part of the western wall. There was a first wall built by king James 1st in the 13th century running parallel to where La Rambla is now and a hundred years later the latter was enclosed by an outer wall, this time engulfing El Raval (on your right while walking down La Rambla towards the sea). This image you see is part of such outer wall, at Avinguda del Parallel, near Reials Drassanes (Royal Dockyards), turned into Barcelona's Museu Marítim (Naval Museum).

Google Earth View of the Barcelona City Walls: Defense Tower

The Textile and Clothing Museum of Barcelona

Today I show you a picture of The Textile and Clothing Museum of Barcelona located at the old Marquès de Llió Palace bought by the City Council in 1955 and restored later to open as a museum in 1969. According to the museum's own definition The Textile and Clothing Museum is an institution charged with safeguarding the valuable heritage of material history formed by textiles, tapestries, embroideries, lace, liturgical ornaments, civil dress and accessories, and apparatus for the production of these objects, dating from the early centuries of our era to the present day". Very near Picasso Museum, but that's another story...

Update: The Textile and Clothing Museum is now here:

Address: Disseny Hub Barcelona, Plaça de les Glòries, 37-38 08018 Barcelona.

Transport: By Metro – Line1 Glòries (Àlaba street) | By Bus – Lines 7, 92, 192, H12 | By Tram – Trambesós T5, T6 – La Farinera | By Bicing – Bicing station, Av. Meridiana – Glòries subway

Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Today I show you some pictures about Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Pavilion described in my previous post. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was born in Aachen, Germany in 1886 and died in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. Influenced by Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel and his use of simple cubic forms and broad proportions and seduced by Russian Constructivism and the Dutch De Stijl group, this young employee in his father's stone-carving business soon got to hobnob with the best of Berlin's cultural society in the 20's. He entered the famous Bauhaus design school, and created modernist furniture classics such as our Barcelona Chair in 1929 and the Brno chair in 1929-1930. 

Here is another picture of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, one of the best exponents of his new ideas: enclosed large open "universal" spaces with clearly ordered structural frameworks.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona

Back in 1929, during Barcelona International Exposition, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the famous architect built the German Pavilion which was demolished one year later when the Exposition was over. In the 80's, the Pavilion was reconstructed on the same place (near Barcelona Fair premises and MNAC) by architects Ignasi Solà-Morales, Christian Cirici and Fernando Ramos. 

Don't expect too much from the site as it is just a pavilion to admire design and material. If you are an architecture enthusiast perhaps you can buy interest books on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe at the bookshop. Tomorrow I will show you more pictures and write some words about this famous German architect. Hereby, I acknowledge the kind suggestion of my wife in choosing this place and specifically in taking this shot.

Modernist Lamp Post at Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona

One of the distinguishing traits of Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, are these modernist lamp posts on both sides of the street. Unlike gas street lighting installed in 1852, these lamp posts with benches date back from 1906 and were designed by Pere Falqués. There are 31 in all as far as I am concerned and were restored in the 80's during a remodeling campaign in the city. Please examine this other shot of the lamp post for more details.

Passeig de Gracia: Reminiscing

This is just a beautiful modernist bench and lamp post (all-in-one), like many others. But what if you check this other photo by Robert Capa almost at the end of Spanish Civil War. I really got to worship these benches after I saw the picture.

Barcelona's National Theater of Catalonia

The National Theatre of Catalonia opened in the city in 1996. The building resembling a Greek temple was designed by Ricardo Bofill, the famous Catalan architect who projected Barcelona Airport or will build the hotel Vela in the new mouth of the port. With a capacity of 894 seats, the main auditorium has a classical amphitheater shape. If you want to know more about theater in Catalonia you can read this excellent article.

Aerial View of Barcelona's National Theater of Catalonia (Google Earth Image)

Banco Vitalicio in Passeig de Gracia, Barcelona: Detail

This is a detail of one of the doors at the entrance of Banco Vitalicio building, facing the intersection of Passeig de Gràcia and Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes. Here is another picture with details of the reliefs by Enric Monjo on the façade of the same building.

Aerial View of Banco Vitalicio: Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona, Spain (Google Earth Image)

Banco Vitalicio: First High-Rise Building in Barcelona

This impressive building at Passeig de Gracia,11 holds the headquarters of Banco Vitalicio de España (Full View), an insurance company of renown prestige. It was built from 1941 to January 1950 on the same place where Palau Marianao was. The building was a project of Lluís Bonet i Garí (1893-1993) one of the architects who, after the Spanish Civil War, continued with the building of the Sagrada Família. With its 17 floors it was one of the first high-rise buildings in Barcelona and a sample of the new prosperous times after the end of the dark postwar period of the 40's.

Seat 600: A Part of Spanish History

Seat 600 is part of Spanish history, a car attached to the memories of thousand of families that couldn't afford to buy expensive brands in the sixties. Although it was a Fiat license, it was built in Spain and the Seat factory was located in Barcelona (now in Martorell, in the outskirts of the city).

El Timbaler del Bruc

El Timbaler del Bruc, a young drummer representing the heroic resistance of Catalan partisans at the region of El Bruc (Anoia) against Napoleon's troops on June 6th and 14th, 1808. The French army had to withdraw, and such deeds are celebrated each year at the Fiesta del Timbaler, where inhabitants of this town impersonate historical characters of both sides in battle scenes. According to the legend the sound of the drum strengthened by the echo of nearby mountains scared the invaders away. This figure is part of an exhibition at History Museum of Catalonia.

Cogwheel at History Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona

As a reminder of Catalan industrial past, you can admire old machinery parts such as this cogwheel at the History Museum of Catalonia in front of Barcelona port.

Catalan Modernisme: Casa Pia Batlló

Casa Pia Batlló taken from Rambla Catalunya. Check previous post for some more information. If you want to know more about Modernisme (not Modernism), feel free to use the new Barcelona Photography search engine (orange rectangle on my sidebar) or the Google box at the bottom.

Modernist Street Lamp at Casa Pia Batlló in Barcelona

This modernist street lamp with an elaborate ironwork can be admired on the façade of Casa Pia Batllò, a house designed by the famous Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas (1848-1910). Built from 1891 to 1896, this modernist building is located at the insection of Gran Via Les Corts and Rambla Catalunya.

Check this Google Earth Image.

Woman Sculpture at History Museum of Catalonia

Woman sculpture at History Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. As you see I am using my archives as this photoblog is not working full gas due to summer holidays. I am taking note of all those kind comments I have been receiving from old friends and newcomers. By the end of the month I will be visiting you all as usual. Don't think I forget any of you, you are the reason for this place to exist. Have a nice day.

Spanish Civil War's Republican Posters Exhibition

If you happen to be in Barcelona and you like history, particularly the Spanish Civil War history, don't miss this exhibition about Republican posters at the History Museum of Catalonia till Sept. 11th, the Day of the Catalonian Nation, also known as the Diada.

Come and Go

Just some anonymous people walking along Diagonal Ave. in Barcelona. Common, ordinary people on their way to work or just wandering. The picture was taken from the bus and completely at random.

Flower Blend

This day I celebrated my birthday. Yes, I am a Leo, with all the good and the bad traits. Anyway I mean no harm. I picked up these flowers for the occasion.

History Museum of Catalonia: Escalators

Just a photograph taken from the upper floor at the History Museum of Catalonia. The striking red color and the reflections coming from the roof called my attention. Even though the museum has a good restaurant on top and a marvelous view from the balcony over Barcelona port and surrounding terraces, a quiet atmosphere prevails in the interior.

Sunset at Sant Antoni de Vilamajor near Barcelona, Spain

Another sunset image from Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, not very far away from Barcelona city, while staying at some friends' this summer.

Sunset at Sant Antoni de Vilamajor near Barcelona

See you soon. I hope you don't mine me changing the dates. I just thought you could share some of my pictures and at the same time I keep the logical sequence of days in my posting. Thanks for your understanding. Have a nice August.

Rainbow at Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Barcelona

Taken after my return from Paris. I am leaving for a town in Murcia, Spain and will be back around August 16th.

Aerial Shot of the Pyrenees

Barcelona from the Sky

Barcelona on my way to Paris.

Big Table at L'Illa Diagonal, Barcelona

Chestnut Fruit at Bellaterra, Barcelona

Big Ripe Tomato at Bellaterra

Ripe Tomato at Bellaterra, Barcelona

Juicy ripe tomato. I wonder how much of its smell and taste is lost on the way to the market.

Barcelona Green Tomatoes

If you liked the previous flower maybe you like the green color of these tomatoes picked up at some friends' vegetable garden in Bellaterra, just outside the city of Barcelona. Tomorrow I finally start my summer holidays, but I promise I will do all I can to post at least once a week, or even more. Maybe I publish two or three pictures the same day. This situation will last till September when I will be here strictly "daily". Have a nice summer and run away from the heat! It is so hot in Barcelona I should have called the post Fried Green Tomatoes.

Orange

I guess this is some kind of daisy, but as I am not good at flower names I leave it up to you. I prefer to call it Orange. I know this has nothing to do with Barcelona, except for the garden which is located at Bellaterra, a neighboring town. I have taken less pictures downtown lately but I always carry my camera just in case. As the purpose of this blog is both photography and Barcelona, I think I can alternate my modest piece of work and photo journalism. Don't worry there is Barcelona for long. Yes, I know, another silly flower.-)

PS: For those who liked the flower, don't miss next post...

Metal Art at La Rambla, Barcelona

Wandering along Las Ramblas I found these rusty metallic objects obviously piled up there to be used by one of the many human statues, though this time I couldn't spot the artist. I particularly like this sort of metal Chucky with trumpet.

Satellite View of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain.

Columbus and La Rambla in Barcelona

As you know I already published a post about Chris Columbus, and many about La Rambla and its magnificent street artists. You should basically know that such beautiful walk was once a torrent along the city walls, pretty muddy when it rained. By the end of the XVIII century the torrent became a promenade and was adorned with trees. In the XIX century wealthy families built their houses along the already famous patch of land. Walls had been demolished after 1860 and the Eixample was being born thanks to Ildefons Cerdà's urban plan out of the old city limits. According to Wikipedia: "The name La Rambla means, in Spanish and Catalan, an intermitent water flow, and is derived from the Arabic 'Ramla' which means 'sandy underground'". La Rambla is divided into 5 parts: Rambla de Canaletes, Rambla del Estudis, Rambla de les Flors, Rambla dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Mónica.

Ferris Wheel at Tibidabo Amusement Park in Barcelona

This is another shot of the ferris wheel at Tibidabo Amusement Park. I like it because you can see Collserola Tower in the background. If you want to know more about ferris wheels check this link. Do you feel like enjoying another panoramic view of the city where you can see Barcelona's Fabra Astronomical Observatory, watch this one. 

PS: I will be on the air till Monday and then will start summer holidays, for more details read previous post. (I have published plenty of images with maps of Tibidabo, so please search site for previous posts).

Sagrada Familia: Portal of Nativity

After examining the opposite façade in detail in previous posts, I select this picture of the Nativity Portal taken from behind the gates late in the afternoon, once the place was not flooded with tourists.

PS: Next Tuesday I start my summer holidays (full August). I will post when I am back from Paris and Disney Land Paris around August 8th. I want you all to understand that this is just a break along the way and not a farewell. When I am back I will be travelling around Spain so I will be able to use my archives at least twice a week. The intention is not to give up and return with more energy in September. This is a fascinating hobby, as fascinating as time consuming but what the heck, as long as there is somehing to shoot at!.

Satellite View of Sagrada Familia on Google Maps.

Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, Spain

After showing you part of the History Museum of Catalonia at Palau de Mar building, here is a picture of the view from the roof and restaurant terrace of the museum. You can admire part of the Moll del Dipòsit in which Marina Port Vell is located. The Marina is surrounded by Barceloneta's restaurants and "tapas" bars and is 10 minutes away from the center. The place appeared recently in the news because of the many people living in boats and not sailing alleging that it's cheaper to dwell in a small vessel than buying or renting an apartment in the city. Notice the white building there in the background, it is the Imax Port Vell cinema, a little bit to its left you find Maremagnum Shopping Center and farther back you see Barcelona World Trade Center building. On the horizon the almost new highway bridge near the entrance to the port. Check this other photo where you have a wider view.

Satellite Image of Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, Spain.

La Guardia Civil: The Boogey Man

The Guardia Civil, the Spanish equivalent of Italian Carabinieri or French Gendarmerie, is sadly famous because of their cruel and repressive methods during Franco's dictatorship. As you see in this photograph taken at the Museum of History of Catalonia they used to patrol in pairs and wore the traditional tricorne. We have to say that modern Guardia Civil is far more gentle.

Satellite View and Closer Image of History Museum of Catalonia

Loom at Museum of History of Catalonia

Catalonia was one of the first regions in Spain and in western Europe to promote industrialization: the steam engine, introduced in 1830 and the first railway line in Spain set between Mataró and Barcelona in 1848 are good illustrative examples. Textile industry had a great boom in the XIX century due to the introduction of such technical developments and was favoured by the prosperous economy fomented by the Cuban trade. This picture of a Catalan loom was taken at the Museum of History of Catalonia, located at one side of the harbor inside a restored building full of restaurants and terraces which make the visit much more complete for the tourist. I recommend you visit the restaurant on top where you can enjoy a full view of Barcelona's marina.

Barceloneta Memories

I finally found the place. I had seen a similar photo published somewhere about this demolished building in La Barceloneta, a popular quarter in Barcelona and I wanted to take a couple of pictures myself to share them with you. As you see the façade appears to have been restored a little bit (notice the toilet seat has been secured with an iron support and the white wall is quite clean), maybe the sign you can see in the second picture belongs to the artist who decorated the place, I don't know. There is a chain-link fence surrounding the estate thus the shadow on the top left corner.

Satellite Image of La Barceloneta in Barcelona, Spain

Hibiscus: Red is the Color

It occurred to me that the striking red color of this Hibiscus I found in a garden somewhere in Les Corts, Barcelona (specifically Numancia and Travessera) would look nice against the blue skies of previous photograph, at least until it disappears swallowed by the bottom of the page. Another shot of Hibiscus flower. I found it hard to choose, but I preferred the shape of this one.

Sightseeing at Maremagnum

My daughter last spring at Maremagnum in Port Vell, Barcelona. She asks me for a coin and goes sightseeing, just like looking at myself in the mirror not so long ago...at least in my mind.

Satellite Image of Maremagnum, Barcelona on Google Maps.