Arte y transformaciones sociales en España 1885-1910

The period between 1885 and 1910 witnessed decisive transformations in the modernisation of Spain. During those years artists ceased to deal with historical matters and instead tackled the most important aspects of life at the time, so that their works became testimonies to those changes. This gave rise to social painting, the most outstanding works of which, acquired by the State at the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, are now in the Museo del Prado. Sculpture, graphic arts and photography also dealt with these themes and played an important role in shaping the image of the period. Many of these works are studied for the first time in this publication.

It shows how naturalism, associated in its aims with photography, was the style which, because of its aim of objectivity, initially defined the approach of most artists to the subjects they dealt with. In these there was a significant broadening to encompass all aspects of contemporary life, including those which, because of their ugliness or apparent lack of interest, had scarcely been considered before. These included industrial and women's work, education, disease and medicine, industrial accidents, prostitution, emigration, poverty and ethnic and social marginalisation, colonialism and workers' struggles. Other issues, such as religion and death, are seen in a new light.

This catalogue analyses the diversity of interpretations of all these themes, the interrelationship between different techniques such as photography, illustration and painting, and the crisis of the naturalist system of representation following the triumph of its most prominent authors, such as the Jiménez Aranda brothers, Joaquín Sorolla and Ramon Casas. Their proposals were replaced by others of a more expressive nature, first by Darío de Regoyos and, after 1900, by artists such as Isidre Nonell, Pablo Gargallo and Pablo Picasso.

Edited by Javier Barón, who is in charge of the study devoted to painting, the catalogue includes other essays on sculpture, photography and Catalan art. In addition, each of the nearly 300 works in the exhibition is the subject of a detailed analysis.

ISBN: 978-84-8480-610-3