Retrato de Mercedes Llorach (Portrait of Mercedes Llorach)

Mercedes Llorach was a society figure in Barcelona and an acquaintance of Ramon Casas, who painted her portrait with the ease and elegance he brought to all his society commissions. Casas's portraits of Catalan women in fashionable dress are among the most accomplished social documents of the Catalan modernista movement, capturing the wealthy Barcelona bourgeoisie at its most stylish. The painting is now at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. Casas's technique here owes obvious debts to Sargent and Whistler, filtered through a specifically Mediterranean directness.

The portrait shows a confident, economical handling — dark gown against a simple background, the face painted with delicate precision. Casas uses sweeping brushstrokes for the fabric, saving his most careful attention for the sitter's face and hands. The palette is restricted and elegant.