In the year 1904, Joaquín Sorolla (Spanish, 1863-1923) produced nearly 250 works, which included sketches and finished paintings.
His working method was documented by his friend Aureliano de Beruete:
"The execution of each work was preceded by a period of preparation in which, by means of several drawings or studies in color, whether of the whole or a detail, he tried to familiarize himself with the subject he wanted to represent with all the contrasts of light and color, with the proportions, form, and foreshortening of each figure and, finally, with the effects and the relationship of some tones with others.
"Once he had penetrated into all this, he placed his models in the right position and in the time and the light which the painting called for and he started working, without hesitation or changes.
"This is what gives his works painted out of doors their freshness, their spontaneity and their imponderable vigor of execution."
Quoted from the book Joaquin Sorolla by Blanca Pons Sorolla
Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) on Wikipedia
Have to say,as great as his paintings are,I enjoy the studies so much more,and can look at them longer and still feel led deeper into the subject:)
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