Prado explores Spanish society through art (1885–1910)

The Museo del Prado in Madrid presents 'Arte e trasformazioni sociali in Spagna (1885–1910)', a major summer exhibition examining the relationship between art and society during a period of profound change. Curated by Javier Barón, the show features over 300 works—many never before exhibited at the Prado—including paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, photography, and early cinema. Artists such as Darío de Regoyos, Antonio Fillol, Joaquín Sunyer, José Gutiérrez Solana, Santiago Rusiñol, Ramón Casas, and Isidre Nonell depict contemporary life with a modern, often critical realist style, influenced by European naturalism while reclaiming the legacy of Velázquez and El Greco. The exhibition is organized thematically, covering labor, industry, women's roles, religion, education, disease, crime, prostitution, strikes, and emigration. Many large-format works come from Spain's National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, where social realism was promoted and winning pieces were acquired for the Prado. The Universal Expositions in Paris (1889 and 1900) also served as international platforms for these artists. A unique feature is the inclusion of 'gabinetto' spaces displaying period photographs and drawings from private collections, creating a dialogue between fine art and documentary imagery. The accompanying catalog, edited by Barón, brings together leading specialists in 19th- and 20th-century Spanish art and history. The exhibition runs until September 22.