The Quatre Gats chat show, a brewery in the centre of downtown Barcelona, is considered the main origin of modernisme. In the article we give more details about how it developed.
The origins of the Quatre Gats gathering
Although it is considered that the starting point of Catalan Art Nouveau was the Universal Exhibition of 1888, there was a catalyst most important. In the Quatre Gats chat show agreed a number of arts professionals who contributed to the dissemination of this style.
The brewery Els Quatre Gats opened in 1897 and, because of its structure, it was the ideal place for Barcelona artists to meet. It was a restaurant, but also a cabaret, and was located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. This central location allowed some of the leading artists of the time to drop in frequently. Moreover, it coincided with a time when Barcelona was growing and welcoming artists from all over Catalonia and other Spanish regions.
Although the premises closed in 1903, during its six years of life a wide variety of activities took place. In addition to the cabaret shows, there were puppets, music and literary evenings. A magazine was even published. This miscellany was favoured by its founder, Pere Romeu, The result was the creation of a regular gathering. It became one of Barcelona's landmark venues. It is worth noting that the premises are located on the ground floor of a neo-Gothic building that was restored by the modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
Modernism was much more than a architectural style, and so did a artistic revolution and a break with the past. Therefore, it also permeated other arts that received reciprocal influences. This gave rise to a very interesting gathering.
Participants
In the Quatre Gats chat show artists from different disciplines participated. It was not only about architecture, but also had a presence in the music, the architecture and the drawing. The most assiduous was the painter Santiago Rusiñol, who marked an epoch in modernism, but also attended by the painter Pablo Picasso. Another specific case is that of the architect Antoni Gaudí, who also frequented the venue. The venue was also frequented by musicians such as Isaac Albéniz o Enric Granados.
The reality is that the premises had an aspect of dissemination of artistic and cultural works and for the exchange of ideas.
In addition, plays were performed and musical concerts and readings were offered. Although the life of the premises was short, the fact is that the gatherings that took place there marked a before and after. This was probably the moment when the most powerful nucleus of modernism came together.
The local dels Quatre Gats It closed in 1903, beset by debts. It was reopened in the 1970s and today retains its original décor.
How to recover the splendour of Art Nouveau buildings
One of the premises of modernist premises is to recover their exterior and interior presence. For this reason, we are struck by the cement tiles and the encaustic cement tiless.
It is therefore important to enlist the help of a specialised company that manufactures these materials. From the 1990s, The interest in modernism was reborn and companies emerged to provide material.
This is the work we do in Mosaics Torra. We manufacture all kinds of of cement tiles and we have a catalogue of more than 300 references because we are manufacturers. We wanted to combine tradition with new designs that, while respecting the traditional construction style, bring something new to the table. It is also important for you to know that we work all over Spain and we can send the material wherever you want. We specialise in all types of models so that you can choose the one you want. Whether it is a new building or you need to restore, you are sure to find what you are looking for. We have the endorsement of working with reference companies and institutions such as the Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
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