Marine Sketch With Cliffs 

Joan Brull painted this marine sketch with cliffs at an unknown date. It evokes the artistic climate of Catalonia during a period of significant cultural and political change. The artwork, with its rugged cliffs and dynamic brushstrokes, speaks to the Catalan landscape. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were marked by the rise of Catalan nationalism and a desire to assert a distinct cultural identity. Artists like Brull were central in visually articulating this identity. The sketch invites discussion about the role of landscape in constructing national identity. As historians, we can delve into archives, exhibition records, and critical reviews to fully understand the painting. We can examine how the landscape was depicted in other art forms, such as literature and music, and we can see how institutions and political movements shaped artistic production. This can bring us closer to understanding the cultural and political context of the artwork.