Scenes and Customs of Madrid

Scenes and Customs of Madrid is a literary work by Spanish painter and writer José Gutiérrez Solana. Published in two volumes in 1912 and 1918, it is described as gloomy and corrosive. Solana's writings, like his paintings, were influenced by Spanish masters such as Francisco de Goya. His work often depicted tragic aspects of urban life, grief, and horror, rendered in somber earth tones and blood reds. Solana spent time in the poorer areas of Madrid, which informed his observations of Spanish life. This style of writing, focusing on customs and manners, is known as costumbrismo, a literary movement that realistically observed everyday life and regional elements.12