Hello everyone! In the previous blog I was talking about the Tower of Hercules, and today I will talk about an artist who was able to represent it in a very interesting way: Urbano Lugrís.
Urbano Lugrís (1908–1973) was a Galician painter and muralist, a prominent representative of surrealism and maritime imagery in Spanish art. Born in A Coruña, the son of writer Manuel Lugrís Freire, he grew up in a cultural environment that deeply influenced his work, characterized by its connection to the sea, Galician folklore, and dreams.
Lugrís developed a unique style, blending dreamlike elements with coastal landscapes, ghostly ships, mythological creatures, and literary references. His meticulous and detailed technique employed cool tones and shades of blue, evoking depth and mystery. All the paintings have an oniric aura. Among his most famous works are A casa do peixe, (1950) (The house of the fish), Marina (1960), and the murals at Café Español in Pontevedra, where he captured marine scenes with a poetic and symbolic atmosphere.
Though associated with surrealism, his work transcends labels, incorporating symbolism and magical realism. Lugrís also contributed to cultural magazines and designed theater sets. Despite his talent, he received limited recognition during his lifetime, though today his contribution to 20th-century Galician art is widely acknowledged. What I like most about Lugrís is not what is painted, it's the way in which it’s painted. When I look at these paintings I can only conceive them as a dream.
I hope you enjoyed this short visit to my city. I will see you next time in a different place!