Sorolla- Notes in the sand (Apuntes en la arena)

Sorolla: Notes in the sand – Apuntes en la arena

(Exhibit at El Carmen Museum, Valencia, Spain)

Fisherman of Valencia, Pescadores de Valencia
Fisherman of Valencia, Pescadores de Valencia

April 15, 2016

Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863 – 1923) is known as a master of light and for his portraits, landscapes, and monumental works of social and historical themes, many in the impressionist style.  Many of his paintings are housed at the Museo Sorolla in Madrid, while there are monumental works permanently exhibited at the Hispanic Society in New York.  The El Carmen Museum in Valencia (http://www.consorciomuseos.gva.es/SOROLLA,-APUNTES-EN-LA-ARENA.asp) is currently exhibiting an excellent collection of Joaquin Sorolla’s paintings of Valencian beach scenes.  You can see a few of the 100 works below.

Fisherman of Valencia, Pescadores de Valencia
Fisherman of Valencia, Pescadores de Valencia

He gained tremendous notice from the painting and exhibition of Sad Inheritance.  This painting featured children effected by the polio epidemic circa 1900.

Triste Herencia, Sad Inheritance
Triste Herencia, Sad Inheritance

 

Pillo de Playa
Pillo de Playa
Children on the Beach-- Niños en la Playa
Children on the Beach– Niños en la Playa

Children on the Beach sold at auction for 3.5 million euros.

Despite his mastery of the medium and tremendous production he is little known outside Spain.

For biographical information go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaqu%C3%ADn_Sorolla