Jose Manuel Broto Appraisal

Large Abstract Composition by José Manuel Broto (1980)

This is a significant large-scale abstract painting attributed to José Manuel Broto, dated 1980, measuring approximately 1.15 x 1.48 meters (roughly 45 x 58 inches). The work is typical of the Spanish 'New Abstraction' movement, featuring a vibrant and gestural application of various pigments on canvas. The palette is dominated by intense hues of fiery orange and sienna in the upper two-thirds, juxtaposed against a structured block of swampy olive green in the center and a deep navy blue horizon at the base. The construction reflects a post-modern approach with visible brushstrokes, dripped paint techniques, and layered translucency. There is a sense of atmospheric depth created through the swirling orange movements that surround a central, totem-like rectangular form. The painting is housed in a dark, professional gallery-style wood frame with a gold-toned inner fillet, which complements the warm tones of the composition. Regarding condition, the canvas appears well-tensioned without visible sagging; however, the lower right corner shows minor scuffing on the frame edge. The paint surface displays a healthy texture consistent with 1980s oil or acrylic application, with no immediate evidence of craquelure or flaking. This period of Broto's work is characterized by a transition from minimalism toward more expressive, colorist landscapes of the mind, making this a prime example of his stylistic development in the early 1980s.