Many Spanish artists have left their mark on the history of art worldwide. The works of these artists are composed of diverse styles and cover numerous periods, but always with a strong relationship and connection with the country where they were born. The great Spanish artists have inspired significant artistic currents and have even generated their movements, modifying the international art world on more than one occasion. Moreover, Spanish painters continue to inspire contemporary artists today, demonstrating that Spanish art continues to grow and evolve.

Today, Spain is one of the most visited countries due to its outstanding cultural and historical heritage. Spain was home to some of the greatest painters and great sculptors, writers, poets, philosophers, architects, photographers, and many other characters that have contributed wonders to the art scene in all its forms.

We cannot fail to mention that Cervantes, one of the greatest exponents of Spanish literature, was born in Spain. He was a great novelist, poet, playwright, and the world-famous novel "Don Quixote". Such is so that many people from all over the world decide to study Spanish in Spain, not only because it is the cradle of the Spanish language but also because of its rich literary heritage. That is why visitors from all over the world come to Spain to study at language schools such as expanish.com.

A bit of history
A solid religious theme characterizes the Spanish Renaissance. In the 16th century, Spain was influenced by the Italian Renaissance, as many Spanish artists traveled to Italy to learn about the new techniques and aesthetic innovations that were emerging there. Then in the 17th century, known as the Golden Age, painting and writing especially flourished. There were artistic centers in Madrid, Seville, and Valladolid, where artists such as El Greco, Velazquez, El Españoleto, and writers such as Cervantes, Góngora and Quevedo met.



The decline of the Baroque gave way to Rococo and then to Neoclassicism. One of the most important Spanish painters of the 18th century was Goya. He was recognized for his beautiful portraits of the monarchy and later painted on political and social themes.

During the 20th century, two revolutionary movements were born in Spain that would contribute to the international art scene from that time to the present day: Cubism and Surrealism.

Cubism introduced the fourth dimension -time- in painting. It is characterized by geometric forms interspersed with planes and an austere color palette. Its main exponents were Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Surrealism, which emerged from Dadaism, proposed expressing and exploring the subconscious, not only in painting but also in literature. The irrational fantasy of the dream world was an essential source of inspiration for the poets and artists of Surrealism, as can be seen in the works of Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.

As mentioned before, the artists and writers of past eras continue to inspire the general population today. Their works continue to be appreciated and studied today, as is the case of Cervantes' novels, which are the subject of study in every Spanish school Madrid, for example.

Some of the most important Spanish artists in history

El Greco (1541-1614)
This painter is of Greek origin but most of his artistic career was developed in Spain. Before living in Spain, he lived in Italy where he interacted with the great Renaissance painters of the time. Although Byzantine, Renaissance, and Mannerism strongly influenced his training, he developed his own style. When he arrived in Toledo, he managed to create some of his most recognized works, such as "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" and "The Gentleman with his Hand on his Chest" (which is in the Prado Museum).

Francisco de Goya (1746-1828)
He is considered one of Spain's most influential artists. This painter and engraver have left a mark on the history of art. He was a precursor of the pictorial movements of the 20th century and interpreted the different styles of the time, from Rococo to Neoclassicism or Pre-Romanticism. He explored a wide variety of subjects and techniques during his lifetime, from portraits of royalty to nudes and war scenes. He is considered the forerunner of modern art. Some of his most emblematic works are “Saturn devouring his son”, “The 3rd of May in Madrid”, and “The Naked Maja”, which are currently in the Prado Museum.

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989)
This multifaceted artist (painter, sculptor, engraver, and writer) is one of the greatest exponents of surrealism. He studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. During his academic period, he contacted Federico García Lorca (whose literature is reviewed in every Spanish language school Madrid). He later lived in Paris, where he met Picasso, whom he deeply admired, and Joan Miró. With the Second World War outbreak, the artist moved to New York, where he rubbed shoulders with the great American artists. There he joined André Breton's surrealist group. Dalí became famous for his paintings that combine the imaginary and the unreal, but his work also includes films, sculptures, photographs, and much more. Among his most emblematic works are: “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening” (Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza), “The Persistence of Memory (MoMa)”, and “The Great Masturbator” (Museo Reina Sofia).

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Famous painter and sculptor from Malaga, Spain, founder of cubism. Pablo Picasso began painting as a child and worked for 75 years without rest, producing an endless number of works spread all over the world, including paintings, designs, prints, engravings, book illustrations, sculptures, and ceramic pieces. Picasso's work and style underwent numerous transformations throughout his life. Today, he has played a fundamental role in the history of art in all its creative stages (blue period, pink period, cubism, etc.). Some of his most representative works are: "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" (MoMa), "Guernica" (Reina Sofia Museum), and "The Weeping Woman" (Tate Modern).