Balcons de Barcelona (Balconies of Barcelona) is a mural created using the trompe-l'œil technique that transforms a wall into a lively façade. Painted in 1992, the mural depicts balconies featuring 26 historical and cultural figures, including Gaudí, Picasso and Columbus, watching the city. The work plays with perspective, appearing as a genuine extension of the building that turns a blank wall into an urban scene rich in history. The illusion still holds from down on the street: the balconies seem inhabited, while the wall ceases to be a wall, becoming a stage.
This is good to know
Stand facing the Plaça de la Hispanitat to better appreciate the mural’s perspective and the three-dimensional effect of the balconies.
Some of the artists involved in creating the work are depicted in the painted bookshop window.
