Paquita Sabrafen was born in Barcelona in 1931. In 1936 at the time of the Spanish Civil War her father, Alfredo Sabrafen, was a Republican and also a philanthropist who helped support Artists exiled by the Franco Regime, like Picasso. He was a patron of the arts and provided his daughter with an environment in which artistic pursuits were a part of life.
Paquita Sabrafen's works can be found in the collections of:
§ The Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australia
§ The Nagasaki Art Museum, Japan
§ The Art Museum of Albacete, Spain
§ The National Art Museum of the Czech Republic, Prague
§ The National Art Museum of China
Others are located in Nagasaki:
§ The 26 Martyr Museum
§ The Nagasaki Town Hall
Exhibition:
Sabrafen also has many significant paintings in religious institutions in Spain including: in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Orito in Alicante; in the Founding Convent of the Salesian, Alicante; in the Church and Convent of the Carmelitas in the town of Lietor, Castilla La Mancha; and in the Cotolengo de Padre Alegre in Barcelona. Sabrafen's paintings can also be found in private and public collections around the world.
After experiencing the loss of a mother, a Civil War and a World War her father moved his family to the Americas - Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the time Buenos Aires was a place of prosperity and culture as Europeans moved their wealth there to escape the wars. There her teachers recognised a talent in the child for the art of painting.
Sabrafen studied under and was influenced by several artists from that time onwards. Andrea Morch (born 1866,) who was part of the impressionist movement in Argentina, was her first dedicated tutor from 1944. Vincent Puig (former pupil of Spanish Artist Moises) taught portraiture, drawing and painting in oils. She studied murals and landscapes with F. Guinart, learnt about painting human anatomy and marine scenery with Reverend Huget, and considered different animal figures with Viladrich, as well as learning from and working with other masters. Many became her friends and considered her the young promise of their group.
Paquita Sabrafen returned to Spain in 1963 to paint commissioned portraits, to exhibit and to reunite with family. In Barcelona in December, 1963, Paquita Sabrafen had examinations approved and was qualified as a "Maestro" in the field of Artistic Painting by the Principal Guild of Master painters and Sculptures of the City of Barcelona.
Sabrafen has received official honours in a number of countries, both for her art and her other qualities. She maintained her vocation with unstinting energy until her death in January, 2009, thanks to her talent and her love of life which enabled her to show in her works the aspects of human endeavour. By the end of her life she had travelled extensively throughout the world but mainly had divided her time between Australia and Spain.
Paquita Sabrafen dedicated a lifetime to her work and was a master in her profession. Her work and the fruits they bear are permanent.
Argentina/Spain
The front cover of the catalogue of Paquita Sabrafen’s exhibition at the Muller Gallery, Buenos Aires, 1950
Several news articles were written Sabrafen's early work.
Here are some english translations of those articles:
1. LaTribuna
In the Renon Gallery, an exhibition of oil paintings of the prestigious painter Paquita Sabrafen Puig was inaugurated. An artist proceeded by much deserved distinction that has echoed all over, made itself known to all the critics of the country.
Amongst the portraits exhibited some have featured well known personalities of our city.
On her visit she has made many interesting comments concerning the importance of the portrait as a never ending expression of the painter.
In Hall number 2 of the Renon Gallery, Cordoba, this afternoon an exhibition of 21 portraits, one natural scene and various landscapes will be inaugurated. She is an artist with an overwhelming number of qualities in her profession. In her youth and beauty she has dominated some of the most difficult aspects of painting.
2. “Le Capital” (Daily), Rosario, Argentina, 11th June, 1959. Plastic Arts
Paquita Sabrafen Puig
The difficult art of portrait painting is enriched by the excellent work of Paquita Sabrafen Puig as seen in her new exhibition at the Renon Gallery. Her feminine touch prevails throughout all her paintings with an exquisite good taste which reflects the inner life of her models. This is most obvious in work 12 and 13 where the spontaneity of her fluid style can be appreciated.
Sabrafen painted the portraits of prominent families in Buenos Aires, Argentina, such as Mrs .Blasbalg and her daughters
“The young artist Paquita Sabrafen (from Cataluña) is exhibiting 22 portraits, painted in oil, which reflect the extraordinary picturesque talent of their author and the soul of her figures, stemming from the classical school and hence, immortal.
The young artist reveals herself in all the sincerity of her art, her delicacy, subtlety and her good taste, which enables her to infuse an intense breath of life in her works...”
The words of Jose Quesada on radio Excelsior on that date referring to the exhibition realized at the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires in September 1956.
Quoted on Catalogue for the exhibition held on the first of June, 1959 at Galeria Renon, Rosario, Argentina
Murals painted by Paquita Sabrafen, exhibited in Buenos Aires Argentina. Paquita Sabrafen with Pilar Mira y López (mother of Emilia Renouf)
LA PRENSA, Spain.
Monday, 11th November 1963,
Translation of Article:
“Entre Nosotros”, “Between Us”
A Catalan – Argentinean:
The Painter Paquita Sabrafen
Paquita Sabrafen was born in Barcelona and when just a young girl she went to Buenos Aires. There she studied Fine Arts and specialised in painting with masters such as Vicente Puig, Andrea Moch and Guinart. She discovered her vocation for the portrait and specialised in it, having realised various exhibitions. She is well known in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and countries of Spanish decent. Miss Sabrafen possesses a fine delicacy and at the same time a profound knowledge of colour. She paints the soul (heart) in her portraits. In our city her exhibitions will be held.
LP: What do you think essentially attracted you to painting?
PS: Creation of forms. My ideal would be to reach the heart of things in their purest abstraction.
LP: What moves you most about Spain?
PS: The “black” paintings of Goya. I see his genius as being ahead of his times by hundreds of years.
LP: What philosophy did you practice?
PS: Whatever negativity life may have, I try to see it as a stimulus so as not to make further mistakes. I like to respect all tendencies and opinions, living with others and human solidarity.
LP: Are you always an idealist?
PS: Above all even of nature itself.
LP: Would you please define yourself?
PS: I love creation so long as it is influenced by nothing more than the vital impulses. At times I prefer digression if it is spontaneous rather than the original aesthetic.
The beautiful artist has concepts and an amplitude of “miras” that shine from within her black eyelashes, put this together with the melody in her words and there you have defined the artist Catalan – Argentine.
Honourable Spanish General, Dr Rius, President of the Red Cross in Barcelona, decorated with the Cross of Malta.
In 1963, Paquita Sabrafen was commissioned to do some portraits and exhibit her work in Barcelona, Spain. Some of those portraits were of Dr Gil’s family members. Dr Gil was the personal physician of Dictator, General Franco. (Whilst Sabrafen was at Dr Gil’s residence, she stayed in the room that was reserved for General Franco.)
Self Portrait", 1963
In Barcelona, December, 1963, Paquita Sabrafen had examinations approved and was qualified as a Master in the field of Artistic Painting by the Principal Guild of Master painters and Sculptures of the City of Barcelona.
Certificate of mastery from the Barcelona guild of master painters
Translation of certificate from the Guild of Painters and Sculptors of Barcelona:
I certify as Senior Maestro of the Guild (Gremio) of Painters and Sculptors of the present city of Barcelona that Ms Francisca Sabarfen Puig belonging to the Art of Painters with the Charter of Artisans National No. 62 256, was examined, approved and classified Master in the field of Pintora Artistica on the 15th day of December of 1963 according to the file of the registration book of this guild.
And for the record and enjoyment of the pre-eminences, rights and works of such a master. I am present and sign and seal by the members of the Tribunal.
Signed by: The Senior Maestro (El Maestro Mayor);
The Judge of the Examination (El Juez de Examen);
And the Administrator.
Monday, Barcelona, 16th December, 1963. “Talking with Paquita Sabrafen”
The self portrait is not a caprice- it is a determined frame of mind – a pictorial work of art is a result of placing oneself with the exterior.
Paquita Sabrafen is a young and beautiful Catalan painter who has been a resident of Argentina for 20 years. Five months ago she returned to the country of her origin, to get to know it well. She has travelled through most of Spain and has lived in Barcelona, where she plans to return after her visit to Paris and Rome.
It is in the residence of Doctor Martinez Fraile that we interview Paquita. The The library has transformed into a studio, and the painter is working on a painting. Angelica A de Araujo the wife of the Consul General of Argentina, also of Spanish decent.
L.P: Please tell me about your impression of the variety in the Spanish landscape.
P.S: What surprised me the most was the changing colour of the sea in different places. Also, eyes change colour depending on the light of each place......
LP: Will you exhibit? PS: Probably in March.
LP: When experimenting what gives you the greatest satisfaction, painting a portrait, an urban scene or a country landscape?
PS: Trying to transmit one’s inner feelings, the artist, does this at times with pleasure and at other times with suffering. In the most inspired moments pain is quite possible, due to the very tension that keeps one glued to the subject. A pictorial work of art is the result of being able to place oneself with the exterior and the tensions experienced may be quite diverse.
LP: What do you experience when you paint yourself portrait?
PS: When I paint a self portrait I look at myself with an air of defiance, trying to discover my own heart/ soul. The self portrait is not done out of caprice, it responds to a state of determined soul. There are times that for ‘animicos’ shocks, it is necessary to exteriorize oneself. It is possible that if I were to paint various self portraits each would be different, because it would be a response to distinct ‘animicos’ states.
LP: When you paint a portrait of others what are your thoughts?
PS: I try to reflect a medium level of the animico within the general social atmosphere of each person. It is true that while painting the portrait of the wife of the Consulate General, that has been evident.
"Lady with Hat"
"Girl with her Puppy"
In 1964, Paquita Sabrafen did not return to Argentina. She married Joaquin Hernandez Ruiz and had children. The family went to Paris 1969. There Paquita was reunited with her family friend Emilia Renouf, (Mira y Lopez) who was married to the then, Australian Ambassador in Paris, Alan Renouf.
As a talented Artist, Sabrafen was highly recommended and she and her family migrated to Australia. Soon after her arrival in Australia she painted Immigration Minister Michael Mackeller and his children; also, Lyn Strickland an Olympic runner (Bronze medalist) and business tycoon Riley, Keys – Arenas, organizer of the Shell Folkloric Festivals at the Opera House and others.
She was the secretary of the Ethnics Art Cooperative and participated in setting up exhibitions at the Westfield shopping centers. Sabrafen also taught Aboriginals to paint as part of a Government program.
"Painting of Guillermo Keys Arenas, Choreographer"