From the Belle Époque to modern sculpture: a family of pioneers

Julio González (Barcelona, 1876 – Arcueil, France 1942) is considered the founder of modern iron sculpture and one of the leading sculptors of the 20th century. He influenced the technical and conceptual aspects of Picasso, with whom he was a friend and collaborator, and was also in contact with Juan Gris, Pablo Gargallo, and Modigliani. However, an approach to Julio González's work would be incomplete if it did not consider his connection with his older brother and family driving force, Joan González (Barcelona, 1968 – 1908), whose artistic career was cut short by his premature death. The story would also be incomplete if we ignored the continuing role played by his daughter, Roberta González (Paris, 1909 – Monthyon, 1976), not only as an artist but also as the intellectual and emotional executor of a complex artistic body of work.

Joan González, the elder brother, was the head of the family and responsible for decisions such as settling in Paris, leaving behind an intense artisanal work in the artistic metalwork workshop in Barcelona. Joan worked tirelessly for the mere eight years that his illness allowed him to dedicate to art, between 1900, the year he decided to move to Paris, and 1908, when he finally returned to die in his native Barcelona. These eight years were enough to earn him the recognition, appreciation, and admiration of artists and critics such as Joaquín Torres Garcia, Alexandre de Piquer, a young Picasso, and even Gaudí himself, fascinated by his work. Joan left behind a short but rich artistic trajectory in post-impressionist and Art Nouveau illustrations, in urban portraits, especially of young women.