Julio Cortés Ballesta (1933–2020) ‘By the Sea’

Oil on canvas. The scene depicts a lively Valencian beach, where a group of fishermen and locals gather around two large, traditional sailing boats resting on the shore. In the foreground, several women dressed in traditional clothing walk on the light sand, while small clumps of coastal vegetation decorate the ground on the far left. The composition is notable for its loose, textured brushstrokes that masterfully capture the intense Mediterranean light, reflected both in the partly cloudy sky with its yellowish and bluish tones and in the subtle, dark, inverted reflection cast by the painting's base onto the black exposure surface. Signed "Julio Cortes" in the lower right corner.

Size: 38 x 46 cm; Size including frame: 56 x 64 cm