View of the port of Barcelona

This painting by Soler i Rovirosa is an authentic snapshot of Barcelona in 1889. But this is not just any view – the artist captures Barcelona with all its bustling maritime activity at an important moment in history, at the time of the change from sail to steam power, and from being a small provincial city to an industrial capital, with great international influence after the 1888 World Fair. Furthermore, Soler i Rovirosa adopts an original point of view, using a perspective from the start of the Riba quay. In this way, he achieves a view of Barcelona that is recognisable but different. The painter’s point of view even leads the observer to think that the original had been mounted on a curved frame, to give it that unusual scenographic effect.