Pere Romeu i Borràs

This famous man was representative of the Modernista type, both in his appearance and his attitude, and greatly influenced by the personality of Aristide Bruant (the popular entertainer at Le Mirliton). He was a great lover of everything that symbolised modernity, such as motor cars and sport. One of the images we have of him is in the picture R. Casas painted to decorate the Quatre Gats café, Ramon Casas i Pere Romeu en tàndem (Ramon Casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem, 1897; MNAC collection), in which the two friends appear together.
In 1893 he collaborated with M. Utrillo and Steinlen in Paris in putting on shadow plays at the Théâtre des Ombres Parisiennes, a show which a year later he was to try to stage in New York, without any success. He later worked as an entertainer at the cabaret Le Chat Noir.
Upon returning to Barcelona in 1897 he founded, together with his friends R. Casas and M. Utrillo, and S. Rusiñol, the Quatre Gats café, situated on the ground floor of Casa Martí (1895; Montsió, 3 bis), built by J. Puig i Cadafalch. The café remained open until 1903 and was the scene of discussions by intellectuals and artists, and of shows such as shadow plays and concerts. Many Modernista artists held their first exhibitions at Els Quatre Gats.