I took a visit to the Museo Sorolla in Madrid today. I've been so many times but every time I'm struck by the integrity Sorolla paints with. He honours the painting tradition, his family, country and culture in every painting. He knew the world he inhabited inside out; perhaps an essential trait to any artist. If an artist does not know his own world completely, he cannot convey it effectively to others. He made his world and all within it deeply known to others.
Sorolla's use of the different tones of white in his paintings is phenomenal. By far my most favourite painting by him is one called Madre (Mother) which pictures his wife, Clotilde, with their baby on a bed covered in white sheets. The entire painting is executed in different tones of white, save the heads of the baby and Clotilde which are expertly brought to life by just a few strokes.
No comments:
Post a Comment