Joaquin Sorolla, The Painter of Light

"Light is the life of everything it touches." - Joaquin Sorolla

This is the essence of the Spanish Realist and Impressionist painter, Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida (1863 - 1923). The exhibit on display at the San Diego Museum of Art is a striking collection of turn of the century impressionistic work.

Sorolla's paintings depict people in tranquil settings. He painted outdoors to enhance the effects of light and recreate the image as accurately as possible.Sorolla became well-known for his ability to use light to bring his paintings to life. Sorolla's depictions of everyday scenes are particularly compelling. He captures frames of continuously moving life in his magnificent canvases.

He chose to paint scenes of children playing in the ocean waves and ladies leisurely spending their morning in the garden. The subject's attire seems to be the obvious clue to the time period of otherwise timeless images. The collection is a moving reflection of life nearly 100 years ago.
Maria, his daughter, dominates several of the portraits. Sorolla was devastated when she became ill with tuberculosis and remained sick for an entire year.
Several of the portraits of Maria during her illness are included in the showcase and each distinctly express his emotion through color and light - either with remarkable vividness or the lack thereof.

Sharply contrasting works are the dark portrait of Maria Sick (1907) when she initially became ill and the colorful life-size painting of her that is titled Maria at La Granja (1907). Here Maria stands as a beautiful young woman when she was completely recovered (left). Reflecting on this portrait, one can sense the strong bond Sorolla shared with his daughter. Maria at La Granja gives one the feeling that the image portrays Maria as her father always saw her.

The Portrait of Mr. Taft, President of the United States (1909), is an ideal example of the methods Sorolla used to convey the personality of his subjects. Taft's cheery expression is depicted with large sweeps of the brush that give him a relaxed easy feeling.The president, who spoke Spanish fluently, commissioned Sorolla to paint his portrait and chatted with Sorolla as he recreated his jovial image."With nature in front of us we can do everything well," the artist once said. Sorolla's confident attitude is noticeable in his work.Sorolla's appreciation for natural beauty and a peaceful atmosphere are an inherent part of his artistic style and testimony to why his paintings feel so relevant today.


All paintings by Joaquin Sorolla. In order of appearance: Sewing the Sail (1896), After Bathing (1908), Maria at La Granga (1907), Portrait of Mr. Taft, President of the United States (1909).

Photo sources: Sewing the Sail, deseoaprender.com; After Bathing, art.com; Maria at La Granga, sdmart.org; Portrait of Mr. Taft, President of the United States, commons.wikimedia.org