Catalunya Gràfica

Catalunya Gràfica was a Catalan-language illustrated magazine published in Barcelona between 1922 and 1923. Subtitled "revista catalana d'informació nacional i estrangera" (Catalan magazine of national and foreign information), it was founded and directed by Joan Guasch i Rius. The first issue appeared on 10 January 1922, initially planned as a ten-day publication (desenal) and later becoming fortnightly (quinzenal) from around issue 24. The magazine ran for 25 issues before closing in April 1923. The publication was based at the Puig i Alfonso bookshop on Plaça Nova in Barcelona, which served as both editorial and administrative office; from issue 24 the office moved to Carrer de Fontanella, 13. It was printed first by the Casa Successors de J. Comas in Sabadell and, from issue 11, by Henrich i Cia in Barcelona. A typical issue had 24 pages in two columns, with the first eight pages devoted to articles and advertisements and the rest to graphic information with black-and-white images. The cover price was initially 40 cèntims, rising to 50 cèntims (2 rals) with issue 22 in 1923. Editorially the magazine was markedly Catalanist. Its contents included monographs on Barcelona's Plaça de Catalunya and on infrastructure such as the telephone line promoted by the Mancomunitat de Catalunya; features on historical Catalan figures such as Jacint Verdaguer, Isidre Nonell and Joan Maragall; references to Catalan inventors and to the Barcelona city council's construction of facilities such as schools. Religion appeared frequently, with features on Catalan churches including the Sagrada Família, on dates such as Easter, and on the election of the new pope after the death of Benedict XV. There was also graphic coverage of Catalan places such as Sant Miquel del Fai. Above all, the magazine covered Catalonia's written, musical and theatrical culture, including Catalan versions of songbooks and adaptations of legends such as Blancaflor. Sports coverage focused especially on FC Barcelona and on cups played in Catalonia, highlighting matches against international clubs. Foreign news appeared occasionally, often as illustrated news items. From issue 10 the magazine showed signs of financial difficulty. The editorial appealed to readers to help make the magazine "ben catalana, de Catalunya i per Catalunya" and to cooperate in national propaganda. Delays and combined issues followed (issues 11 and 12 appeared together), and from issue 13 the number of pages was reduced even as advertising remained. By issue 21 the editorial reported that unnamed cultural entities had formed a patronat to support the magazine. The final issues made the end clear: issue 23 reused the cover of the first issue, and issue 25 reused the Sant Jordi April cover. The magazine never announced its own disappearance, but it evidently closed because of economic problems caused by lost subscribers and the rising cost of publication. Catalunya Gràfica is remembered as a general-interest illustrated weekly-fortnightly that documented Catalan political, cultural, religious and sporting life in the early 1920s. Its contributors included writers such as Francesc Carreras i Candi, Joan Llongueras, Lluís Millet and Antoni Nicolau, photographers signing as Josep Maria Sagarra, Vilaseca, Zerkowits, Frascarri, Pineda, Sendra and J. Vidal, and the illustrator Josep Alumá, who signed the magazine's covers and mastheads. The publication is now digitized and available through the Arxiu de Revistes Catalanes Antigues (ARCA) of the Biblioteca de Catalunya.

Catalunya Gràfica first appeared in Barcelona on 10 January 1922. It was founded and directed by Joan Guasch i Rius, described in the sources as the editorial representative and the person in control of the publication. The editorial and administrative office was located at the Puig i Alfonso bookshop on Plaça Nova, 5; from issue 24 the office moved to Carrer de Fontanella, 13. The first issue was printed by the Casa Successors de J. Comas in Sabadell, and from issue 11 printing moved to Henrich i Cia in Barcelona. The magazine was initially announced as a desenal (ten-day) publication, and it remained so until issue 24, when it became fortnightly (quinzenal) with irregularities. It ran from year 1, no. 1 (10 January 1922) to year 2, no. 25 (April 1923). A typical issue had 24 pages in two columns: the first eight pages carried articles and advertisements, and the remainder consisted of graphic information with black-and-white images. The cover price was initially 40 cèntims; with issue 22 in 1923 it rose to 50 cèntims, or 2 rals. Editorially the magazine was strongly Catalanist. It published monographs on subjects such as Plaça de Catalunya and on facilities such as the telephone line promoted by the Mancomunitat de Catalunya. It featured historical Catalan figures including Jacint Verdaguer, Isidre Nonell and Joan Maragall, referred to Catalan inventors, and covered the Barcelona city council's work in building facilities such as schools. Religion appeared often, with features on Catalan churches such as the Sagrada Família, on dates such as Easter, and on the election of the new pope after the death of Benedict XV. It also offered graphic coverage of Catalan places such as Sant Miquel del Fai. Above all, it covered Catalonia's written, musical and theatrical culture, including Catalan versions of songbooks and adaptations of legends such as Blancaflor. Sports coverage centred on FC Barcelona and on cups played in Catalonia, especially matches against international clubs. Foreign information appeared occasionally, often as illustrated news items. The narrative style and sections remained essentially unchanged across the 25 issues. Signs of difficulty appeared from issue 10, when the editorial called on readers to make the magazine "ben catalana, de Catalunya i per Catalunya" and asked for help in increasing national propaganda and cooperating to keep the publication alive. This appeal was repeated in later issues. The next issue showed the problem clearly, with a delay and the joint publication of issues 11 and 12. From issue 13 the number of pages decreased even though advertising remained, leaving less space for editorial content. In the editorial of issue 21, readers were told that some unnamed cultural entities had formed a patronat to cooperate for the magazine's success. The end became evident in the last issues. Issue 23 copied the cover of the first issue, and the final publication, issue 25, copied the same cover as the April Sant Jordi issue. The magazine never announced its own disappearance, but it is evident that it closed because of economic problems arising from the loss of subscribers and the high cost of publication. It ceased in April 1923 after 25 issues. Among the writers who contributed most regularly were Josep Barberà, Bertran i Pijoan, Bofill i Duran, Bofill i Matas, Mossèn Josep Cardona, Francesc Carreras i Candi, Florenci Cornet, A. Fargas, Llorens Ferrer, J. Lamote de Grignon, F. Lliurat, Joan Llongueras, J. Mas, D. Mas, A. Masriera, P. Mateu, Lluís Millet, Antoni Nicolau, J. Permanyer, Ll. Reñé, J. Roca, Ruíz Porta, B. Saturé, Surinach Sentíes and Joan Tomas. Some well-known names such as Antoni Nicolau, Lluís Millet and Lluís Reñé did not sign any document but appear in statements. The most important photographers, indispensable to an illustrated magazine, signed as Josep Maria Sagarra, Vilaseca, Zerkowits, Frascarri, Pineda, Sendra and J. Vidal, with occasional photographers including M. Aguiló i Casas, C. Fargas, Llorens Ferrer, Josep Garrut, J. Martí and Perez Moya. The most important illustrator was Josep Alumá, who signed the magazine's covers and mastheads; Mas i Vinyals and Grapa i Sam also contributed, more as caricaturists. The publication is now digitized in the Arxiu de Revistes Catalanes Antigues (ARCA) of the Biblioteca de Catalunya.

• First issue of Catalunya Gràfica published in Barcelona.

• Magazine initially published as a desenal (ten-day) publication.

• From issue 11, printing moves from Casa Successors de J. Comas in Sabadell to Henrich i Cia in Barcelona.

• Issues 11 and 12 published together after delays.

• From issue 13, number of pages reduced while advertising remains.

• With issue 22, cover price rises from 40 cèntims to 50 cèntims (2 rals).

• From issue 24, magazine becomes fortnightly (quinzenal) and office moves to Carrer de Fontanella, 13.

• Final issue, no. 25, published; magazine closes after 25 issues.

A Catalanist illustrated magazine of national and foreign information aimed at a general readership in early 1920s Barcelona.

• Catalunya Gràfica magazine

  Illustrated Catalan-language magazine of national and foreign information, 24 pages, two columns, black-and-white images.

1. 1Arxiu de Revistes Catalanes Antigues > Catalunya gràfica : revista catalana d'informació...arca.bnc.cat
2. 2Catalunya Gràfica - Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org
3. 3Catalunya gráfica - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Catalunya Gràficaca.wikipedia.org