Joaqu n Sorolla (born in Valencia 1863 - died in Cercedilla 1923) is one of the most successful Spanish painters ever. He was a genius in capturing the essence of the scene he was painting. He lived while photography was being invented and popularized. Some of his breathtaking seascapes show how he was familiar with and employed similar techniques as the photograph. His landscapes are also a great introduction to Spanish history.
Most of his paintings of boats and the sea capture the fishermen in Valencia, who fished from the beach. He has painted several masterpieces of the returning boats being pulled to the beach. The oxen used to pull the boats are captured so strong, so life like, with so much love. He also painted the waiting fisherwomen and the children happily playing. He painted scenes from the lives of the fishermen. Sorolla's paintings are extremely powerful and colorful and although he is usually labelled an impressionist, he is also often very naturalist and detailed. The reader is kindly referred to our book about Sorolla's landscapes.