V. The complete artistic freedom
Sorolla’s art reached the peak of its
maturity in Afternoon Sun. Here,
the painter’s interest in capturing the
effects of natural light, in this case in
a scene featuring a fishing boat being
hauled ashore after a day’s work, bathed
in the setting sun of a Valencian summer
evening —a theme already explored in
Return from Fishing—is carried
to its utmost limits. Tackled with
complete artistic freedom, this visually
powerful canvas allowed him to exploit
the potential of the colossal dimensions
of the fi gures and the imposing presence
of the sail, as well as the swelling
movement of the sea, captured here with
frenzied energy.
Exhibited in various cities in the United
States, the painting now returns to Spain
for the fi rst time since it was acquired
for The Hispanic Society of America of
New York in 1909. When Sorolla discovered
the harsh, rugged geography of Jávea and
the vividly blue tonality of its
transparent waters, he found the perfect
setting for some of the scenes that
allowed him to tackle compositions more
daring than those which appear in his
earlier paintings. These pieces already
bear the artist’s uniquely personal and
immediately recognizable mark.
-
Joaquín Sorolla, Afternoon Sun, Oil on canvas, 299 x 441 cm. 1903.
