Art and Water II: The arrival of tap water

The objects in the collection of the Museo de las Aguas, duly paired with works of art by great artists, show us how the arrival of tap water brought about a change of uses and a real advance towards well-being in homes.

A chronicler of the society of the late nineteenth century, like the painter Ramon Casas, could not ignore a subject like the bathroom. His soft and seductive brushstrokes create a subtle, almost warm light that adds to the sought-after effect of utter comfort.

The strong realism of Lucian Freud's painting crudely reflects an intimate space that focuses on two powerful jets of water, with a strong expressive component.

Known as the "painter of happiness", Pierre Bonnard portrays a scene of ambience and comfort in Intérieur blanc: the intimacy of a space overlooking a garden, with a warming fireplace, a tea tray, and a modern hot water radiator.

From the moment Conrado Granell created the design, the ceramic material used in the Sinai has always stayed true to the aesthetics of Levantine ceramics.

The laundry, which was previously done by hand and in a communal way with a distribution of labour, is carried out inside the home, thanks to the manual washing machine. This lithograph summarises what this new item of modernity represented.

As can be seen through this photograph by Francesc Català-Roca, the use of water helped maintain a sufficient level of hygiene and cleanliness, despite the growing urban population of the post-war years.

The Pérez de Rozas family, one of the photojournalistic dynasties that have marked the history of reporting in Barcelona during the 20th century, reflected how the inauguration of a public fountain was an event of great importance for the city, both in civil and political terms.