In 1883 he discovered the urban landscape from Joan Roig i Soler's paintings, technical perfection and interpretive freedom that impressed him. This motivated him to paint Port of Barcelona, and then he made other compositions of old Barcelona, such as Racó de Santa Maria del Mar (1885) or La plaça del Born (1885). Rusiñol evolved but remained interested in realism, and during the years 1887 and 1888, he added characters to the landscape. Paint scenes related to work and corners of the urban landscape with characters in natural attitudes or daily tasks. Good examples are Pedrera de Montjuïc or Cargolada. These works, which he exhibits at the Parés Gallery, are described as naturalistic and, in general, have a good acceptance from critics. Art critics such as Frederic Rahola, who published in the newspaper La Vanguardia, praise the painter.