Manuel Yus y Colas was one of the 19th-century artists who showed the greatest interest in Aragonese themes, with a special focus on depicting local everyday life and customs. He also dipped into portrait painting. The most important stage of his training was in Madrid, where he studied at the Special School of Painting and Sculpture. In the 1868-1869 academic year he studied there alongside Francisco Pradilla, who was also from Aragón; Pradilla was two years younger and also drew his inspiration from the region, focusing particularly on its people and landscapes. After completing his studies in 1873, Yus y Colas set off on a journey that would take him to some of the main European centres of art. This was the heyday of local Costumbrism in art and writing, inspired by works such as the Life of Pedro Saputo by Braulio Foz. Manuel Yus tapped into that theme successfully and helped to popularise it thanks to his frequent presence in national and regional fine arts exhibitions. There is documentary proof that he took part in such contests between at least 1868 and 1897. He entered his work in the Aragonese Exhibition in 1868 and 1885, and his name appeared among the participants in the National Fine Arts Exhibitions of 1876, 1878, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1892, 1895 and 1897.
Manuel Yus y Colas was one of the 19th-century artists who showed the greatest interest in Aragonese themes, with a special focus on depicting local everyday life and customs. He also dipped into portrait painting. The most important stage of his training was in Madrid, where he studied at the Special School of Painting and Sculpture. In the 1868-1869 academic year he studied there alongside Francisco Pradilla, who was also from Aragón; Pradilla was two years younger and also drew his inspiration from the region, focusing particularly on its people and landscapes. After completing his studies in 1873, Yus y Colas set off on a journey that would take him to some of the main European centres of art. This was the heyday of local Costumbrism in art and writing, inspired by works such as the Life of Pedro Saputo by Braulio Foz. Manuel Yus tapped into that theme successfully and helped to popularise it thanks to his frequent presence in national and regional fine arts exhibitions. There is documentary proof that he took part in such contests between at least 1868 and 1897. He entered his work in the Aragonese Exhibition in 1868 and 1885, and his name appeared among the participants in the National Fine Arts Exhibitions of 1876, 1878, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1892, 1895 and 1897.