“I decided to try a kind of painting based on memory; by this, I mean a climate painting, leaving the viewer to complete it with his memories. The realist focuses on that loaf of bread, that flower. I’d like to create a climate in which the bread, the flower, were born of the viewer’s imagination.”
Executed in 1964, Cuenca belongs to a pivotal moment in Fernando Zóbel’s artistic career, when his lyrical abstraction was reaching full maturity. Paintings from this period reflects Zóbel's dedication to capturing the fleeting moments of the environment, showcasing his ongoing exploration of the interplay between light, color, and essence. Cuenca is marked by bold black strokes, dynamic contrasts with light, and playful details of small squares arranged in a line, evoking figures or distant rooftops, all of which contribute to the overall impact of the painting. The present work truly demonstrates Zóbel’s mastery in transforming line and space into a delicate meditation on movement and light.
“I believe that in a work of art, whatever is not necessary is superfluous; it distracts, weakens, and hinders.”
Interestingly, according to Fernando Zóbel: Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings 1946-1984 by Alfonso de la Torre and Rafael Pérez-Madero, the present work was painted over an earlier canvas by the artist, Clunia (1961, 61-38). In his own notes, Zóbel recorded: “Pintado en Madrid. Cuadro pintado sobre ‘Clunia’ (1961, 61-38). En el Cuaderno de Zóbel: ‘Pintado sobre el cuadro nº 421 de 1961, que fue estropeado por la Galería Mediterráneo’.” “Painted in Madrid. Painting executed over Clunia (1961, 61-38). In Zóbel’s notebook: ‘Painted over painting no. 421 from 1961, which was damaged by Galería Mediterráneo.” This layered history enriches the painting with a unique narrative of resilience and reinvention within Zóbel’s practice.
The title Cuenca is especially significant. It refers to the historic Spanish city that became central to the artist’s life and legacy. Only two years after completing this painting, Zóbel have founded the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español in Cuenca’s iconic “Casas Colgadas,” a museum that quickly established itself as one of the most relevant institutions of modern art in Spain.
The city was not only a source of inspiration for Zóbel, but also the place where he forged lifelong collaborations with artists such as Antonio Saura, Gustavo Torner, and Gerardo Rueda.
Cuenca has never been exhibited publicly. For over four decades it remained in a private Spanish collects ion, making this auction the first t.mes it is revealed to the market. This rarity adds to its historical and cultural resonance: a rediscovered painting that connects Zóbel’s poetic abstraction with the city that became the symbolic heart of his artistic vision.
By 1964, Zóbel had already developed his unique language of fine calligraphic marks and luminous surfaces, moving away from figuration towards a more contemplative abstraction. His paintings from this period are considered among his most accomplished, balancing intellectual rigor with a sense of spiritual lyricism.
Cuenca thus embodies both the evolution of an artist at the height of his powers and the enduring importance of place in his creative journey. It stands as a test.mes nt to Zóbel’s role not only as a painter of international stature, but also as a cultural catalyst who transformed the Spanish artistic landscape of the 20th century.
Zóbel's influence continues to resonate in the art community. His works have been featured in significant museum exhibitions worldwide, including Zóbel: The Future of the Past, which highlighted his deep connection with the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. This exhibition debuted in 2022 and is set to have its Asian premiere at the Ayala Museum in the Philippines in 2024. Currently, the National Gallery Singapore is hosting Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential, the inaugural solo exhibition dedicated to this influential transcontinental abstract artist, running from May 9 to November 30, 2025.
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「我決定嘗試創作一種基於記憶的繪畫；我的意思是，那幅畫是一種氛圍，讓觀者用記憶來完成它。現實主義者專注於那條麵包，那朵花。我想創造一種氛圍，讓麵包、花朵都誕生自觀眾的想像。」
於1964年創作的《昆卡》是60年代的代表作，標誌著費南度·索培爾藝術生涯中的關鍵時刻，當時他的抒情抽象風格達到了藝術巔峰。索培爾重新探索色彩，深入剖析自然，展現了他捕捉環境瞬息萬變的熱情，並對光、色彩與本質之間的相互作用有著深刻的理解，呈現出一幅極為完整且豐富的構圖。《昆卡》以大膽的黑色筆觸與光之間的動態對比，以及排列成行的小方塊細節，讓人聯想到人形或遙遠的屋頂，這些元素共同增強了作品的視覺衝擊力，充分體現了索培爾將線條和空間轉化為對運動與光的細膩冥想的高超技藝。
「我相信在一件藝術作品中，任何不必要的元素都是多餘的；它會分散注意力、削弱效果，並妨礙整體。」
根據Alfonso de la Torre 和 Rafael Pérez-Madero 編著的《Fernando Zóbel: Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings 1946-1984》藝術家全集中，本作創作於早期作品《克魯尼亞》（1961, 61-38）之上。索培爾在筆記中記錄：「在馬德里創作，畫作為‘克魯尼亞’上繪製，該作品被地中海畫廊損壞。」這種多層次的歷史為畫作增添了獨特的敘事，體現了索培爾的創作韌性與重生。
《昆卡》一名特別重要，因此處是藝術家多年生活與遺產的歷史城市。兩年後，索培爾在昆卡的「懸崖之家」創立了西班牙抽象藝術博物館，該機構迅速成為西班牙現代藝術的重要機構。這座城市不僅是索貝爾的靈感來源，也是他與安東尼奧·薩烏拉（Antonio Saura）、古斯塔沃·托爾內（Gustavo Torner）及赫拉爾多·魯埃達（Gerardo Rueda)等藝術家建立一生友情的地方。此外，本作從未公開展出，四十多年來一直在私人西班牙收藏中，此次拍賣為其首次亮相市場，增添了其獨特的歷史與文化價值，連結了索貝爾的詩意抽象與這座城市的象徵意義。
到1964年，索培爾已發展出獨特的細膩書法筆觸和明亮表面，從具象轉向更具沉思性的抽象。此時期的畫作被公認為他最成功的時期之一，兼具智力的嚴謹與精神的抒情。因此，《昆卡》不僅體現了藝術家在巔峰時期的創造力，也突顯了地點在其創作旅程中的重要性，見證了索培爾作為國際級畫家的地位及其對20世紀西班牙藝術的深遠影響。
索培爾在全球的重要美術館展覽中受到關注，包括「過去的未來」，該展覽突顯了他與馬德里的普拉多美術館之間的深厚聯繫。此展覽於2022年首次亮相，並將於2024年在菲律賓的阿亞拉博物館舉行亞洲首展。目前，新加坡國家美術館正在舉辦「費爾南多．索培爾：秩序至關重要」特展，全面回顧藝術家自1940年代至1980年代的創作脈絡。展期從2025年5月9日到11月30日。