Carmen and Fuensanta 

Julio Romero de Torres painted "Carmen and Fuensanta," with oil. This work reflects early 20th-century Spanish society, particularly the representation of women. Torres, working in a period of significant social and political change, engages with themes of modernity and tradition. The two figures, named Carmen and Fuensanta, project a sense of mystery. Their direct gaze challenges the viewer, while also nodding to the cultural and institutional expectations around female representation in art. Painted during Spain's Silver Age, the work can be read in the context of the revival of Spanish arts and culture. To interpret this work, we could research Torres' biography and his relationship to the artistic circles in Cordoba and Madrid, read contemporary reviews of his exhibitions, and examine how his work relates to wider discourses around Spanish identity. The beauty of art lies in how its meaning is contingent on its social and institutional context.