Barcelona 1952. Vintage Modernist Oil Painting by Swedish Artist Jacues Sund

This evocative oil painting depicts a dense Barcelona cityscape as seen from above, painted in 1952 during Jacques Sund’s years in the city. The composition unfolds across layered rooftops, towers, and chimneys, with pale plumes of smoke drifting into a softly lit sky—an intimate portrait of post-war urban life.

Sund’s palette is muted yet expressive, combining dusty greens, warm ochres, greys, and brick reds. The brushwork is confident and slightly stylised, balancing architectural structure with painterly freedom. The buildings feel closely knit, almost breathing together, conveying both the vitality and the quiet everyday rhythm of the city.

Rather than focusing on landmarks, Sund captures the atmosphere of Barcelona: lived-in rooftops, narrow passages, and the hazy Mediterranean light that softens forms and dissolves edges. The result is a work that sits comfortably between modernism and lyrical realism, very much of its time yet timeless in mood.

A strong mid-century cityscape by a Swedish artist working abroad, offering both historical resonance and decorative appeal.

Great condition.

Framed size: 49 x 40.5cm / 19.3 x 15.9

Technique: Oil on canvas.

Artist: Jacues Sund, Swedish artist living in Barcelona. (1932-1991)