The Virgin from the ‘Vision of Saint Bernard’ by Filippo Lippi 1894

Santiago Rusiñol created ‘The Virgin from the Vision of Saint Bernard’ as a pencil drawing, paying homage to Filippo Lippi’s original work. Rusiñol was a key figure in the Catalan Modernism movement, a period defined by a search for Catalan identity and a rejection of traditional Spanish values. This drawing, like much of Rusiñol's work, reflects his deep engagement with European artistic traditions, filtered through a distinctly Catalan lens. The choice to depict the Virgin Mary, a potent symbol of motherhood and purity, underscores the era's complex relationship with religious and cultural norms. What strikes me is the way Rusiñol captures the Virgin's quiet contemplation. Her gaze is averted, and her posture suggests introspection. It invites us to reflect on the historical context of the original artwork, where gender roles were clearly defined, and women were often idealized. The artist prompts us to consider how those representations intersect with the emergence of modern Catalan identity.