His works

 

CIVIL WAR

In 1936 started the spanish Civi War. In 1937 Catalá-Roca started to work with his father Pere Catalá i Pic at the Propaganda Commissariat of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia. In addition to taking photographs with his father, he acts as an assistant to the photoprapher Josep Sala.

 

"Stamp on fascism", 1936

by Pere Català i Pic, father of Francesc Català-Roca.

Esvàstic made by Catalá-Roca.

It is one of the most famous adverteisings made during the Civil War. Francesc Català-Roca's Fahter worked for the republicans against Franco. He made this adverteising encouraging the fight against fascism.

 

 

POSTWAR

At the end ot the war, when the Franco's national army entred in Barcelona, his father Pere Català i Pic didn't want go out. They have to forget his politic engagement and made a discreet life.

Then they could return to photography.



ABOUT FRANCISCO FRANCO

After the War, Francisco Franco took the power of the country and became the major authoritary of the new regim. A lot of peopel emigrated to another countries or have been persecuted for Franco. Franco's dictatorship lasted 40 years. Francesc Català-Roca show us the lifes in Spain during this years. The signs of the Franco's authority and power, the presens of religious, the few development of the country and the everyday life can be seen in Català-Roca's Photographies.

 

"Vilafranca" 1971

The symbol "Viva Franco" had imposed for himself in the walls of the streets. Everyboby must know who have the power, and everybody have to adore him.

"Yugo, Fuentelavila", (Albacete) 1967

Another symbol that Franco imposed in all Spain in the entrance of the cities and villages. The yoke with the five arrows shows the submission and the power.


 

EVERYDAY LIFE

In 1948, Catalá-Roca sets up indepently of his father and opens his own studio and photographic laboratory. He did first works that his father didn't do. Slowly he had his own customers. He made a lot of fotos about Barcelona and Madrid.

 

In Catalonia:

"Via Laietana", Barcelona 1948.

Police patrol throught Via Laietana in Barcelona, one of the most important Barcelona's street, that leads direct to the sea, near the Barcelona's Cathedral.

"Visit of the Barrio Chino", Barcelona 1948.

The arribal of the sailors in Barcelona. They went to Barrio Chino to find bichs.

"Gipsy girl", Barcelona, 1950.

A typical gipsy girl, playing in a poor zone in Barcelona.

"Cadaqués", 1953.

A cat in front of a boat in Cadaqués' beach in Cap de Creus.

"Fisherman", l'Estartit 1953.

A fisherman doing a basket for fishing.

"Marine", Barcelona, 1953.

"Roses", 1954.

Beach of Roses, with baskets that fishermen take to fish the fish.

 

In Madrid:

"Young ladies strolling in the Gran Vía", Madrid, 1952.

Young ladies walking in the Gran Vía the most famous street in Madrid.

"Water Vendor", Madrid, 1954.

A boy sold water to the people with a pitcher that mantains the water fresh.

"Plaza del Oriente", Madrid, 1957.

Image of the square of Oriente with two nuns.

 


TRAVELLING THROUG SPAIN

About fifty years, Francesc Català-Roca, travelled all Spain to do works. In 1958 the Directorate-General of Tourism commisions him to take photographs around Spain. He made a lot of Photographs for tourist adverteising, but also he took photographs of everyday life.

 

About all Spain:

Almodóbar del Pinar, Cuenca, 1954.

Old woman sewed in the street.

"Wheel", Minglanilla (Cuenca), 1956.

Man arranges with his hand a wheel cart

"Running of the bulls", Pamplona, 1959.

Sant Fermín. Traditional fest in Pamplona (Basc Country). The bulls run through the streets and the people run also in front of them until they arrive in the bullring.

"Larga afarolada", 1960.

Movement that the bullfighters make when they are bullfighting. In some parts of Spain bullfighting is a tradition. the bullfighters fight with the bull until it dies.

"Positive & Negative", Seville, 1962.

Procession. This photograph show us the two great powers of the Franquism: the religion and the State represented for the Civil Guard.

"Fancy dress dance", Santiago de la Ribera (Murcia), 1967.

Nun in the street in front of an adverteising about a Fancy dress party.