Our visit to the Hispanic Society Library and Museum was fascinating to me, in part because I had no idea this institution existed in New York, or that it was so close to Boricua College, my mothers alma mater, but because I learned about new aspects of Spanish culture I had not known about. I really enjoyed hearing the guide discuss the intricacies of Sorolla’s techniques and his approach to the grand piece we saw at the beginning of our visit. It’s very rare, I think though I am not particularly versed in fine art, to see an artists technical skills and abilities change in one piece. I was very interested in how Sorolla’s brush strokes changed and his approach to capturing light in his paintings. 

What really struck me in our visit, aside from the guide’s very valuable insight, was the depiction of Afro-Latinos in some of the artwork in the hall. Particularly, the picture of the young Afro-Mexican boy and the Afro-Argentinian man. Oftentimes, Afrolatinos and their depictions throughout history are erased, especially in places like Mexico and Argentina. As someone of Afro-Latin descent, but in the context of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, I found it touching to see Afro-Latinos immortalized in this way, from so long ago. Though it made me wonder what their lives were like at the specific points in history they were depicted, and how they might’ve changed after they were drawn. Though neither of the subjects were named, I wonder how their descendants have lived on.