By Olivier Acuña Barba

Copyright euroweeklynews

In the sun-drenched landscapes of Spain, Hollywood icon Robert Redford found not just inspiration, but a canvas for his soul. Long before he became the silver-screen legend of films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, a young Redford traded the bustling streets of America for the tranquil shores of Mallorca.

The late actor, who passed away at 89 on Monday, September 16, often reflected on his Spanish adventures as pivotal chapters in his life—none more vivid than his time on the Balearic island, where he first wielded a paintbrush as a budding artist. It was 1957, and Redford was just 19, a wide-eyed aspiring painter fresh from art school in New York. Disillusioned with the conventional path, he set off for Europe, drawn to Spain’s vibrant culture and unspoiled beauty.

His journey began in Barcelona, where the echoes of the Guardia Civil patrolled the streets, but it was Mallorca that captured his heart. For two immersive months, Redford immersed himself in the island’s artistic haven, particularly in the bohemian circles of Palma and its surrounding villages. “Mallorca was magical,” Redford later recalled in interviews, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “I came to Spain wanting to be an artist, and it was 1957. I travelled the country, stayed in Barcelona, and then spent two months in Mallorca, where I painted several pictures.”

‘Freedom allowed me to breathe’

Those early days were a whirlwind of creativity. Armed with sketchbooks and oils, he wandered the rugged Tramuntana mountains, capturing the olive groves, azure bays, and whitewashed fincas that dotted the landscape. The island’s light—crisp and golden—seemed to infuse his work with a Mediterranean glow, far removed from the urban grit of his American roots. Local artists and expats welcomed the young American into their fold. In Palma’s hidden ateliers, Redford experimented with bold strokes, influenced by the island’s fusion of Catalan traditions and international flair. He spoke of late nights debating technique over glasses of hierbas liqueur, and mornings spent at the harbour, sketching fishermen hauling in their nets. “It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “The freedom there allowed me to breathe as an artist.” Though few of those early Mallorcan paintings survive—many lost to time or the actor’s later pivot to film—they represent a pure, unfiltered Redford, unburdened by fame.

Nearly a decade later, in the mid-1960s, Redford returned to Mallorca, this time not as a solitary dreamer, but as a family man seeking deeper roots. Now 28, he had traded his easel for the spotlight, starring in his first Hollywood roles. Yet, amid the glamour, he yearned for authenticity. With his wife, Lola van Wagenen, and their two young children, Shawna and James, he chose Puerto Alcudia—a sleepy fishing village on the island’s northeast coast—as their haven.

The family rented a modest villa overlooking the Bay of Alcudia, where the sea’s rhythmic whisper became their lullaby. Redford, ever the thoughtful father, saw the move as an educational odyssey. “A few years later, I became an actor and started a family,” he shared. “We went back to Mallorca in the mid-sixties. We stayed in Puerto Alcudia, a small fishing village. It was great because I wanted to educate my children through contact with other cultures.”

The Redfords’ embrace of the island

Life in Puerto Alcudia was a far cry from Tinseltown. The Redfords embraced the island’s simple rhythms: mornings exploring the pine-fringed beaches of Platja de Muro, afternoons bartering at the weekly market for fresh ensaimadas and local cheeses. The children learned to speak a smattering of Mallorquín, chasing goats along dusty paths and befriending local kids by the harbour. Redford, though now focused on acting, couldn’t resist picking up his paints again. He sketched family portraits against the backdrop of the Alcudia lighthouse, blending his artistic past with his paternal present.

This second chapter in Mallorca deepened Redford’s bond with Spain. The island’s blend of serenity and subtle energy mirrored his own evolving spirit—wild yet grounded. It was here, amid the almond blossoms and sea breezes, that he found balance between his creative impulses and family life. Though his later visits to Spain took him to the Costa del Sol— including seven months on a farm in Mijas during a career sabbatical—Mallorca remained the touchstone, a place of renewal that shaped the man behind the myth.

Today, as fans worldwide mourn Redford’s passing, his Mallorcan legacy endures. The island, with its timeless allure, stands as a testament to a Hollywood star who once painted its sunsets. In Puerto Alcudia, locals still whisper tales of the handsome American who came to learn from the sea. Robert Redford didn’t just visit Mallorca—he let it paint him.