Study day: Gaudí and Catalan Modernisme

What is the course about?

Marking the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death in 1926, this study day offers an exploration of his life, career, and the extraordinary flowering of Catalan modernisme. We will trace Gaudí’s path from his early projects to his mature masterpieces, considering not only his distinctive style but also the wider cultural context.

We will examine some of Gaudí’s most celebrated works, including the still-unfinished Sagrada Família, the organic architecture of Casa Batlló and Casa Milà (La Pedrera), and the playful landscapes of Park Güell. Alongside Gaudí, we will also consider other leading Catalan architects of the Modernista movement, such as Lluís Domènech i Montaner, architect of the Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, known for Casa Amatller and his role in defining a Catalan architectural identity.

The study day will set these achievements within the broader historical and cultural context of turn-of-the-century Barcelona. At this time, Catalonia was marked by rapid urban growth, industrial prosperity, and a strong sense of regional particularism. The Renaixença-a cultural revival celebrating the Catalan language and heritage-fuelled a distinctive artistic atmosphere that helped to define Modernisme not simply as an architectural style, but as a cultural movement rooted in Catalan identity.

Modernisme embraced architecture, painting, literature, and the decorative arts. We will therefore also look beyond buildings and will consider painters such as Santiago Rusiñol and Ramon Casas, whose paintings captured the modern life of Barcelona. In this context we will also encounter the very young Pablo Picasso, who absorbed modernista ideas during his formative years in the city. Many of these artists were closely connected to Paris, especially Montmartre, where they engaged with the wider European modernist movement, linking Barcelona’s creativity to international currents of change.

What will we cover?

• Gaudí’s life and career, from his early works to major projects

• Catalan modernisme in architecture beyond Gaudí, identifying the works of other significant architects

• The historical and cultural context of Barcelona and Catalonia

• Modernisme in painting with the works of artists such as Santia Rusiñol and Ramon Casas

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

· Identify and analyse key works of art by Gaudí, recognising the defining features of his style

· Name other key architects working in Catalonia at the same time

· Explain the historical and cultural context of late 19th century, early 20th c. Barcelona, including the Renaixença

· Name key painters of the Catalan modernisme movement

· Evaluate the relationship between Catalan modernisme and wider European modernist movements

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This course is suitable for all levels.

You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will be taught with slide presentations and group discussions.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Modern Paintings: the 19th century from Goya to Gauguin