The character El més petit de tots served as a symbol of Catalan national identity during the Spanish Civil War, representing the work of illustrator and writer Lola Anglada. Her career spanned the twentieth century, bridging classical illustration techniques with political advocacy and the creation of enduring literature for children across several decades.
Artistic Training and Early Recognition
Born in 1892 in Barcelona, Anglada pursued her education at the Fine Arts School of the University of Barcelona. She refined her skills under the guidance of instructors Joan Llaverias and Antoni Utrillo, who facilitated her initial exposure within the Sala Parés. Her early drawings appeared in the weekly publication ¡Cu-Cut!. During this formative period, she also attended the academy of Francesc d'A. Galí, where she developed personal and artistic relationships with peers including Joan Miró and Cristòfol Ricard.
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Following the conclusion of World War I, a French Government scholarship allowed Anglada to travel to Paris. She collaborated with various publishing houses and maintained correspondence with figures such as Josep Clarà and Francesc Macià. Her commitment to Catalanist causes manifested in her public activism, including a organized request for amnesty regarding those accused in the Garraf Plot against King Alfonso XIII of Spain.
Professional Output and Illustration
Anglada collaborated with numerous children's magazines, including En Jordi, En Patufet, La Mainada, and La Nuri, a publication she initiated herself. Her bibliography includes titles such as Contes del Paradís (1920), En Peret (1928), and Margarida (1929). In 1937, she joined the UGT and worked with the Commissariat of Propaganda, resulting in the publication of her widely recognized tale, El més petit de tots. Following the Spanish Civil War, she relocated to the family resort in Tiana.
Legacy and Institutional Recognition
In 1981, Anglada received the Saint George's Cross. Her collection of dolls was donated to the Diputació de Barcelona for the Can Llopis Romanticism Museum in Sitges, while her personal records remain in the Photographic Archive of Barcelona. Several educational institutions across Catalonia bear her name. Between 1984 and 2003, the Caixa de Terrassa and the Town Council of Terrassa administered the Prize Lola Anglada for children's stories in her honor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1892, Barcelona
- Died: 1984, Tiana
- Education: Fine Arts School, University of Barcelona
- Notable Award: Saint George's Cross (1981)
- Primary occupations: Writer, illustrator, comics artist, painter
- Burial site: Poblenou Cemetery
- Citizenship: Spain
Questions readers ask
What is Lola Anglada's most famous character?
Her most recognized work is El més petit de tots, which became a symbol of Catalan national identity.
Where is her doll collection located?
The collection is housed at the Can Llopis Romanticism Museum of Sitges.
