III. 1900: the Grand Prix at the World Fair
Sad Inheritance established
Sorolla’s reputation in Paris and secured
his status on the international scene.
The impact of this work, which earned him
the Grand Prix at the 1900 World Fair,
made him the most successful living
Spanish painter, confi rming critical
interest in his art—an art that explored
nature with sincerity and had the
seashore as the privileged setting for
his paintings. From then on, we see a
change in the execution of his work. In
canvases such as Mending the
Sails, the brushstrokes became freer
and more energetic, in search of a more
direct portrayal of the depicted moment
and a more faithful rendition of the
effect of light. Preparing
Raisins shows a progression towards
a much more daring modernity, in which
contemporary social themes are
subordinated to the pure expression of an
image.
Mother, on the other hand,
marked the appearance in his oeuvre of
distinctly intimate images, linked to the
most private aspects of Sorolla’s life.
These became a regular feature of his
work, and following their success, the
artist continued to pursue them until the
end of his career.
-
Joaquín Sorolla, Sad Inheritance, Oil on canvas, 212 x 288 cm. 1899
