Moonlit Night – A Surrealist Echo of Catalan Dreams
The sculpture “Moonlit Night,” crafted by Leandre Cristòfol i Peralba in 1935, stands as a testament to the burgeoning surrealist movement within Catalonia during its formative years. Born in Olesa de Balaguer in 1908 and passing away in Lleida in 1998, Cristòfol’s artistic journey began without formal training—he honed his craft through self-discovery—producing works that defied conventional representation. Instead of striving for realism, he embraced abstraction, mirroring the philosophical currents of Surrealism itself: a rejection of logic and reason in favor of exploring the subconscious mind.
Subject Matter: The piece depicts a stylized wooden sculpture featuring three wooden rods ascending from its upper surface, culminating in a central ball—a deliberate choice that elevates it beyond mere form into a symbol of contemplation and balance.
Style: Cristòfol’s style aligns squarely with Surrealism's ethos, prioritizing non-figurative expression over literal depiction. The sculpture eschews traditional sculptural techniques, opting for an innovative approach rooted in experimentation and intuition.
Technique: Constructed primarily from wood—specifically birch—the sculpture utilizes a meticulous assemblage process. Cristòfol skillfully joins the rods with brass fasteners, creating a visually striking contrast between organic material and metallic element.
The sculpture’s creation coincided with a period of intense artistic ferment in Catalonia, fueled by intellectual debates surrounding Dadaism and Surrealism. Cristòfol's engagement with these movements reflects a broader desire to liberate art from academic constraints—to tap into the realm of dreams and irrational impulses. The ball at the sculpture’s core symbolizes not only visual harmony but also the pursuit of inner truth—a central preoccupation within Surrealist thought.
Provenance: Donated to Barcelona City Council in 1988, it has since been lent to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) for ongoing exhibition and preservation. This enduring partnership underscores Cristòfol’s legacy as a pivotal figure in Catalan art history.
Museum: Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)
Size: 71000 x 4500 cm
