Portrait of Genís Muntaner 1895 - 1897

Santiago Rusiñol sketched “Portrait of Genís Muntaner” with delicate strokes. Rusiñol emerged as a key figure in the Catalan Modernista movement, seeking to redefine Catalan identity, during a period of political and cultural change. This portrait, with its subtle lines, offers insight into the dynamics of male relationships during a time when male identity was being both celebrated and scrutinized. The sitter, Genís Muntaner, appears relaxed, his gaze directed off to the side, perhaps symbolic of the era’s questioning of traditional roles. Rusiñol, part of a generation grappling with shifting social norms, captures a sense of introspection. The simplicity of the sketch invites us to consider the intimate dialogue between artist and sitter. It echoes the personal and the universal, capturing the shifting cultural landscape through individual experiences.