Desolation

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Considered a master sculptor of Catalan Modernisme, Josep Llimona and his brother Joan spearheaded the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc, an elite group of artists bound by strong Catholic and conservative values, with Antoni Gaudí also among their ranks. This highly structured collective imposed strict rules, including a ban on depicting nudes, that clashed sharply with the innovative ideas of early Modernistes. Eventually, when members of the Cercle revised this rule, Modernista sculpture began to flourish rapidly. 'Desolation' stands out as one of this movement's most iconic works. The flawless anatomy of the female nude and its distinctive chaste, melancholy pose contribute significantly to its classification as a symbol-laden masterpiece. This work has been chosen for inclusion in the project 'Partage Plus – Digitising and Enabling Art Nouveau for Europeana'.