Artwork
Periferie (București)
Periferie (București) is a drawing by Ion Bărbulescu. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
Ion Bărbulescu’s drawing Periferie (București), executed around 1937, depicts a modest urban fringe scene. A man in a hat and coat occupies the right side of the composition, while two figures on the left—one recumbent and the other seated—draw his attention. The setting includes grass, a low fence and distant buildings, rendered in a sketch‑like manner.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of quiet observation on the city’s edge, suggesting themes of isolation and the everyday lives of marginal figures. The standing figure’s gaze toward the lying and seated men hints at a narrative of concern or curiosity, inviting viewers to contemplate the social dynamics of peripheral spaces.
Technique & Style
Bărbulescu employs a loose, expressive line quality, relying heavily on cross‑hatching to model form and convey texture. The dense network of strokes creates depth in the foreground grass and fence, while lighter shading suggests atmospheric perspective for the background structures. This approach emphasizes immediacy and movement within the drawing.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1937, Periferie (București) belongs to the period when Bărbulescu was exploring urban and rural juxtapositions in Romanian art. The drawing’s provenance traces back to the artist’s estate, later entering a public collection that documents early 20th‑century Romanian graphic work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ion Bărbulescu left behind a handful of ink-on-paper drawings. Five survive in this set, from the mid-20th-century daily life sketches to a sheet called “La Geneva.” His lines trace wages, kids, fruit bowls, and small…
