A curious scene unfolds before you. This is the Font de la Palangana also known as the Font del Negrito.
The Font de la Palangana is more than just a fountain. It’s a captivating glimpse into the personal life of its creator Eduard Alentorn. A renowned sculptor he crafted this piece in 1917. It’s located at the intersection of Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Bruc.
The sculpture depicts a young black boy. A girl washes his face. This seemingly simple scene has a deeper meaning. Some believe it represents Alentorn’s adopted son. The boy’s race was not necessarily African. His father was reportedly abusive. Alentorn left his family young. He later reconnected with them. His abusive father had vanished. Perhaps the boy in the sculpture was even Cuban. The story is complex and shrouded in conjecture.
The title Font de la Palangana translates to Fountain of the Washbasin. The boy in the sculpture holds a basin. This gives the fountain its name. The sculptor himself is said to have called it Imposible.
Interestingly Alentorn drew inspiration from a statue he saw at the 1878 Paris Exposition. It featured a woman washing a dirty child. He created three other fountains. They are the Fountain of the Tortoise in Plaça de Goya which he titled A Gran Velocidad and the Font de la Pagesa also known as the Font de la Pubilla in Plaça Letamendi. He also worked on fountains for the Ciutadella Park.
Alentorn was a skilled sculptor. He created many portraits of famous people. These include General Prim Ramon Llull the mayor of Barcelona Rius i Taulet Jaume Balmes and the Spanish soldier Vara de Rey who died in the Cuban War. He also produced religious artwork. There’s no evidence of racist intent in his work. He simply captured a personal moment from his life.
The Font de la Palangana is a testament to Alentorn’s skill. It’s a touching and intriguing story etched in bronze. This seemingly simple fountain invites us to reflect on family love and the complexities of history. It’s more than just a pretty picture. It’s a story waiting to be discovered.