"La càrrega", Ramon Casas, 1899-1903. Oil on canvas. On loan from the Reina Sofía National Art Museum.
The painting "La càrrega" (The charge) is one of the iconic pieces of art from turn of the century Catalonia. Painted by Ramon Casas, it shows the repression of a workers protest march by the Civil Guard. The painting, which is an impressive size, is set in an imaginary Barcelona where the empty space in the square is the main protagonist. It leaves space for the viewer, who becomes part of the work.
The painting was found in Olot in 1919, and it is one of the most emblematic works in the Museum.
