In “Profile of a Young Girl”, Xavier Bueno focuses attention on a face seen in profile, isolated against a neutral and textured background. The young figure emerges with a clearly defined profile; however, the painted surface, marked by glazes and slight irregularities, introduces a more complex dimension. Furthermore, the gathered hairstyle and the small red flower in her hair constitute the only chromatic accents within a palette dominated by greys and earthy tones.
The artist, born in 1915 and active for many years in Italy, was close to the circles of 20th-century realism and developed an independent artistic research centred on the human figure. However, his realism is not descriptive in an academic sense; on the contrary, it is constructed through a reflection on light and on the consistency of the painted surface. In this work, in fact, the face appears modelled through carefully balanced chiaroscuro, while the dress seems almost to merge with the background, suggesting a continuity between figure and space.
The composition is essential and devoid of additional narrative elements. As a result, attention is focused on the introspection of the subject, who appears absorbed and distant. At the same time, the sculptural rendering of the profile recalls a sensitivity to form that recurs throughout the artist’s production. “Profile of a Young Girl” demonstrates Xavier Bueno’s ability to combine formal rigour and psychological intensity, offering an image suspended between direct observation and silent meditation.
Description: Oil on canvas, signed upper left, bearing Falsetti stamp on the back, H 40×50 cm.
Hammer Price: € 8.610,00
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