L'auca del Senyor Esteve

"The first edition of the novel L’Auca del Senyor Esteve by Santiago Rusiñol (Barcelona, 1861 - Aranjuez, 1931) dates back to 1907. Seen here is its transformation into pictures drawn by Ramon Casas, with couplets written by Gabriel Alomar.
In the highly successful novel, Mr Esteve, the main character and a member of the petite bourgeoisie in Barcelona, has a grandson who wants to be an artist, with all the idealism this decision implies. Rusiñol uses this opposition to raise one of the most decisive questions of Modernisme: the artist’s relationship with the bourgeoisie society, a question that is resolved in the end with an understanding, an agreement.
‘Mr Esteve’ is a quintessential member of Barcelona’s bourgeoisie because, within an idealised Barcelona, he portrays the image of the Catalan bourgeoisie to which Rusiñol belonged, with all its defects, yet with some virtues. From a point of view that is both costumista (showing the manners and customs) and mythicizing, the author keeps himself at a distance and takes a comprehensive look at a social class that he was beginning to accept. He projects an affectionate look, despite the fact irony and all its force are not lacking.
In L'auca del senyor Esteve, the transaction between the artist and society takes the style of an epic. The book was his most ambitious work and a few years later, it was taken to the stage, although the irony was reduced. The play opened in 1917, representing one of the most important theatrical events in Rusiñol’s life and was a great success with the general public."