Modernisme. Arts, tallers, indústries

The most spectacular samples of modernisme don't fit in this exhibition. That's why it's subtitled 'Arts, workshops, industries' (what we used to call 'decorative arts'). No, of course there are no buildings – or even scale models – no statues, no dining areas or whole bedrooms, and no delirious interiors that so very many Catalan homes boast. Catalan modernisme more or less took place in the last 15 years of the 19th century and the first 15 of the 20th. Its principal architects were Catalan extremists, and some, such as Puig i Cadafalch, had lofty political responsibilities. But this exhibition pays tribute to the workers, often with unimportant names, who built this formal delirium: labourers, blacksmiths, carpenters, plasterers, goldsmiths, tailors, ceramists, and designers of posters, tiles and furniture – an array so complete that it seems all that's missing are professionals dedicated to book arts.

This is intensive contents and hyper-documents inside the best of packaging: the main floor of La Pedrera. And a must-own catalogue.