March 30, 2005

Goya

GoyaSelfPort.jpg

The Prado presents Goya's work in distinct sections: the years at the court, the religious paintings, the work for the tapestries (cartoons), his documentary work after the courtly years and his final black paintings.

Goya4thMay.jpg
Tracking his work from year to year, I see an artist who was not necessarily an iconoclast, a political actor, best known as he is for his apparent critique and protest in his Caprishos, in paintings -such as the 2nd of May above- and ultimately in his Black Paintings... after this visit to the Prado, I see Goya as a passionate observer caught in a rip tide of political upheaval.

In other words, I see this as his self protrait:
GoyaDog.jpg

Posted by Dennis at March 30, 2005 10:41 AM

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