Espolsant L'Estol, Circa 2020

Pep Anton Xaus  

“Espolsant L'Estol" depicts a striking study of the human form, focusing on a woman seen from behind. Pep Anton Xaus employs a realist approach, capturing intricate details of the figure's skin tones through a palette of earth hues that reflect the play of light and shadow. The subject's pose is natural yet deliberate, with a slight turn of the head adding a contemplative dimension. Set against a soft blue background adorned with subtle patterns, possibly symbolising gentleness and calm, the piece juxtaposes the solidity of the human figure with the fluidity of its surroundings. The careful attention to anatomical accuracy and the serene yet dynamic composition make this piece an exploration of human beauty and individuality. The minimalist backdrop accentuates the contrast and highlights the figure, ensuring the viewer's focus remains on the central subject.

The title of this painting translates from Catalan as "dusting the flock" or "shaking off the flock". Together with the subject depicted, the title underlines the message of Pep Anton Xaus's paintings.

He himself claims: “I paint against the anger of those who seek to censor the absence of makeup, of those who still become scandalised by nudity, especially if the bodies are ordinary, natural, and distant from the canons of a supposed aesthetic perfection. In an attempt to portray women free from guilt and sin, without shame or complexes, confident, natural, autonomous… empowered. Women who are intimidating because they decide their own way of being, escaping moral conventions and traditional roles, also aiming to capture a moment, as if it were a frame from a sequence, to freeze an unrepeatable gesture."