Despite their size (they measure between 15x8 and 15x21 cm), these works are highly important for understanding the painter’s artistic imprint. He called them "sketches" or "notes of color," as they served as studies for later, larger compositions. They depict the sea, the beaches of Biarritz and El Cabañal, as well as Elena, one of the artist’s daughters, and other everyday scenes.
However, one of the "most intimate and special" pieces in this addition, in the words of artistic adviser Marisa Oropesa, is the small case Joaquín Sorolla carried with him, especially to the seaside, where visitors can still see traces of paint. "That little box is one of the most delicate pieces because he touched it and carried it to Biarritz and to his wonderful Valencia, where he painted the sea in those colors. It is something very special. We must bear in mind that the 19th century was when the rise of outdoor painting began. The French started it, and Spanish painters later began painting by rivers, in the mountains...," she explained on Friday.
Although he considered them sketches, "Cabañal Beach," "Biarritz Beach," "Elenita on the Shore" and "Waiting for the Boats" are "delightful" works whose greatness does not lie in their size. "Although they are small, intimate and delightful paintings, with those colors—and some even bordering on abstraction—we realize the great genius behind them," Oropesa acknowledged.
ADDITION TO THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
José Luis Rodrigo, director general of the Ibercaja Foundation, said that Sorolla’s light had "returned to the museum"—which already held a major exhibition of the painter in 2024—and that this time it was "here to stay," calling it "magnificent news." "We are not only talking about thirteen new works that enrich the museum’s holdings; we are talking about the opportunity to approach, in a more intimate way, one of the great names in the history of Spanish art. Sorolla’s light returns at a time when this museum’s light and perspective are also changing, with new spaces. We continue to pursue the goal of becoming a national and international benchmark," Rodrigo said.
Sorolla’s works join the more than 500 pieces held in the museum’s permanent collection, including works by the painter from Fuendetodos and other artists of worldwide renown.
