A debate has erupted in Spain over a short film shot at a wedding in Barcelona in 1922. For three seconds, it shows a man with a white beard and a straw hat. Many believe this is Antonio Gaudí, the creator of the Sagrada Família. If confirmed, this would become a unique piece of evidence about the architect’s life and could reshape his image for an entire generation of Spaniards.
Historian Belí Artigas, who discovered the footage, has called on experts and the public to help determine whether the man in the film is indeed Gaudí. She notes that, so far, there is not a single document that definitively confirms the man’s identity. Despite the researcher’s caution, heated debates have already erupted online. Some insist there can be no doubt, while others demand a thorough expert analysis.
Opinions and debates
The question of who can officially confirm the identity of the person in the video remains unanswered. Representatives of the Sagrada Família refuse to draw conclusions, considering this a task for independent experts. The head of the Gaudí Chair at UPC, Galdrick Santana, emphasizes that a thorough investigation is needed for a definitive answer. The academic community still recalls scandals over hasty announcements about Gaudí-related discoveries and photos wrongly attributed to him.
The Costa-Artigas family, who provided the film, claim that the architect was indeed present at their ancestors’ wedding. According to them, Gaudí was friends with the family and designed gardens for them in La Pobla de Lillet. However, apart from these three seconds of footage and family stories, there is no other evidence. There is no guest list, no photo album, and no living witnesses.
Gaudí’s image in question
For the researcher, it is important not only to establish the truth, but also to show that Gaudí may not have been just the reserved and religious man he is often portrayed as. If the man in the video is indeed him, it would prove that the architect attended social events, cared about his appearance, and interacted with friends. This contrasts with the familiar image of him as a recluse entirely absorbed in work on the Sagrada Família.
Catalan modernism expert Mireia Freixa considers the emergence of this footage an important event. She notes that the video is well documented but urges caution in drawing conclusions. In her view, too many unconfirmed stories have recently surfaced around Gaudí’s name, and it is important not to rush into sensational statements without sufficient evidence.
Context and consequences
The emergence of new materials related to well-known figures always sparks interest and debate in Spanish society. In recent years, similar situations have arisen with archival recordings of other famous architects and artists, when discoveries have changed perceptions about their private lives and habits. Sometimes, such findings lead to the revision of biographies, and other times—to the birth of new myths and legends. In Gaudí’s case, questions about the authenticity of the three-second fragment may prompt further research and discussion, as well as alter public perception of the architect’s legacy.
