Female Figure with Cat – Emilia Castañeda Martínez

Description
This refined composition by Emilia Castañeda Martínez presents a reclining female figure accompanied by a white cat, rendered in oil with her characteristic fusion of sensuality, dreamlike ambiance, and symbolic detail. The palette of violet, lavender, and cool blue tones creates an ethereal atmosphere, with soft transitions that emphasize the introspective mood of the scene. Her brushwork remains fluid and controlled, giving texture to drapery while allowing the figure and cat to emerge with subtle luminosity. The setting hints at symbolic narrative rather than a defined interior, a hallmark of her mature style. The visual balance between the languid pose, diffused lighting, and decorative motifs situates the work within her broader exploration of intimate psychological spaces.

Artist
Emilia Castañeda Martínez (b. 1943) is a Spanish painter.

Artist Details
She was born in Madrid and later settled in Barcelona, training at Víctor Esteban Ripaux’s academy, Escola de la Llotja, and Escuela Massana. Her work centers on the nude placed within abstract, dreamlike environments enriched with symbolic objects that suggest underlying narratives. Her style has been compared to modernists such as Gustav Klimt and Anglada Camarasa, as well as the French symbolist school. Some works have historically faced rejection from galleries due to their erotic undertones.

Movements
Symbolism / Modernist Figurative

Artist Influenced by
Influenced by Gustav Klimt, Anglada Camarasa, and French Symbolist painters, with parallels to American tonalism.

Frame Condition
Set in a gilt frame with minor wear consistent with age; the frame remains solid and visually well-integrated.