A Street Scene in Madrid, from Series "Sketches in Madrid"
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-100
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Constantin Guys (1802–1892), a French artist celebrated as a keen observer of modern life, captured the vibrant energy of Madrid's streets in *A Street Scene in Madrid part of his *Sketches in Madrid series around 1856. Guys, often called the "painter of modern life" by poet Charles Baudelaire, traveled extensively, sketching urban scenes with a reporter's eye. This work reflects mid-19th-century Europe, time of rapid social change, where bustling city streets teemed with figures from everyday life—vendors, passersby, and locals—offering a snapshot of Spanish culture during the reign of Queen ...