Josep Pascó i Mensa

Who was Josep Pascó i Mensa?

Josep Pascó i Mensa was a painter, illustrator and designer from Catalonia, an autonomous community of Spain, mostly noted for book illustrations and theater set design. He was born in Sant Feliu de Llobregat in 1855 and died in Barcelona in 1910. He trained as a painter training at the Escola de la Llotja with Simó Gómez Polo and at the workshop of designer Josep Planella. He began his career as a mural painter but then switched to canvas, mostly landscapes. One of his most original paintings is that of the flag of the Cau Ferrat in Sitges.

His most distinguished work is in the illustration of books and the design of decorative objects, as well as the design of theater sets, starting early with those for small amateur theater companies.

In 1887, he went to Madrid, where he worked at the Royal Theater and was then commissioned to decorate the Principe Alfonso Theater stage. In 1896 he went to Mexico to paint the scenery of the National Theater. When he returned to Spain, he decided to focus on theater lighting. He also worked on the decoration of the home of Ramon Casas i Carbó in Barcelona.