Study of Children and Figures of Men c. 1883

Santiago Rusiñol created this sketch called 'Study of Children and Figures of Men' with pencil on paper. It reflects the late 19th-century European interest in everyday life, particularly scenes of working-class individuals. The sketch shows figures that may have been found in any local cafe or on the street. The rough and ready style suggests it was made quickly, perhaps in situ, which was common for artists wanting to capture the fleeting moments of modern urban life. Rusiñol was part of the Catalan Modernisme movement, which sought to rejuvenate Catalan culture. These artworks often critiqued the established social norms and artistic conventions of the time. They challenged academic art by choosing ordinary subjects and an informal style. To fully understand art like this, we delve into the cultural context of Barcelona at the time. We look at the political and economic forces that influenced the artist and how institutions like art schools and galleries shaped their work. This approach emphasizes that art is always a product of its social and institutional environment.