Francisco Goya lived in a difficult 19th century. A gifted artist and engraver, he became a legend of his time. Having lived a long and interesting life, he managed to capture the most difficult moments in art. His series of etchings is a reflection of the injustice of the old Spanish order, the dire consequences of the war and the first Spanish revolution.
Francisco Goya
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was born in Spain in 1746 into a poor family. He spent his childhood in the village. After moving to the city of Zaragoza in 1760, Francisco enrolled as a student at a local artist. Violent youth and bright temperament force the young man to leave the city and go to Madrid.
In the capital of Spain, the young artist twice tries to enter the San Fernando Academy of Art, but, unfortunately, fails in both cases. Then he decides to go on a trip to Italy. All this time, Goya painstakingly paints and sends them to Madrid, which ultimately bears fruit. They notice him. At 31, he returns to Zaragoza, where he begins an active artistic career. He paints churches, many of his frescoes are praised, which prompts the young man to return to the capital.
Francisco is apprenticed to the court painter Francisco Bayeu, marries his sister and is actively entrenched in the court. When Bayeu died, Goya became the full owner of his workshop.
After he became a court painter, a career went uphill. He paints first portraits of famous nobles, and then the royal family, which makes him one of the most famous Italian portrait painters.
In 1799, at the age of 53, Francisco Goya reached the peak of his career, he received the rank of the first court painter of King Charles IV. At the same time, he begins a series of his famous etchings, which were associated with the politics of that time and with the life of the country's population.
In 1824, power in the country changed, and the new king Ferdinand did not favor the artist too much. Goya is forced to leave for France, where he died at the age of 82.
Spain 18-19 centuries
The artist’s whole life took place in his native Spain, he painted portraits of her high society and engravings about her life. During his long life, Goya witnessed the terrifying events of that time. The artist lived during the Spanish Inquisition, then the church had a huge influence in the state and, as a result, greatly impeded social progress. The Inquisition was officially canceled only 10 years after the artist passed away, for 6 centuries of its existence, it killed thousands of innocent people.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Spain was drowned in blood. The occupation of Spain greatly influenced its economy, the country went hungry, but continued active resistance. For six years, the Spaniards fought fiercely with the Napoleonic invaders and in the end still won, albeit at the cost of millions of lives.
The civil revolution that broke out after the civil war will lead to a protracted guerrilla war. All these terrible events will be reflected in the engravings and etchings of the artist.
The etchings of Goya's “Disasters of War” are permeated with hatred of the war and deep compassion for its victims.
Etching - what is it?
Etching is an engraving on metal. In the manufacture of such an engraving, a metal plate is used, which is coated with an acid-resistant varnish. After that, special tools “scratch” the pattern on this plate. Further, everything is placed in acid (in the translation "etching" is translated as "strong water"), which removes the metal in places free of varnish. Then, after acid, the varnish remains are removed, and paint is applied to the cleaned plate. This technique began to be used in the 16th century.
Many famous artists worked in this technique: Ivan Shishkin, Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt, Salvador Dali and F. Goya.
A series of etchings by Goya will take pride of place in world art. These etchings were created to somehow change the society.
Caprichos
Francisco Goya created etchings "Caprichos", which is translated from Spanish as "Fads." These are 80 fantastic paintings on social, political and religious topics. The etchings of Goya "Caprichos" ridicule and at the same time make you think about everyday things.
Young girls who marry so easily and then wait for ease in family life, in the etching "They say" Yes "and hold out their hand to the first person they meet." Little children whom parents indulge in, as a result of which they become moody and unbearable - "Mama's son." Vices and profligacy of men and women - etching "One is worth the other." An arrogant secular society where "Nobody Knows Nobody", everyone is trying to seem not what they really are. The artist makes fun of the mysticism in the painting "The Hunt for the Teeth" and drunkenness in the plot "His House is Burning Down." A few etchings, where people are depicted with donkey heads, speak of the stupidity of social norms.
But Francisco Goya's best-known etch in the Capriccios series is "The Dream of Reason Gives Monsters." It was the "Dream" that the artist originally wanted to call this series.
When the mind is sleeping, fantasy in sleepy dreams gives rise to monsters, but in combination with the mind, fantasy becomes the mother of art and all its wonderful creations.
A series of etchings by Goya "Caprichos" was completed in 1799. She was very courageous and caused discontent of the king. It was an "uncomfortable" truth about society, church and politics of the time. No wonder the artist paid such attention to Spanish women who sought to marry a rich groom as soon as possible, and then led a dissolute lifestyle.
Goya also devoted a lot of engravings to the theme of the “holy inquisition”, or rather, to the absurdity of its power.
But more he ridiculed the most ordinary human vices: greed, laziness, profligacy, deceit, vanity.
"Tavromahiya"
Like any Spaniard, Goya loved bullfighting all his life. She fascinated and delighted him. It is not surprising that the artist dedicated 33 miniatures to her. Already in adulthood, Goya creates etchings "Tavromahiya" (translated from Spanish as "Fighting the bulls"), where he depicts the brave Moors in the arena with violent animals.
Etchings were not commercially successful, but, of course, became another confirmation of the artist's talent.
"Disasters of war"
The heaviest series of etchings, consisting of 82 pieces, was originally named by the artist "Fatal consequences of the bloody war of Spain with Bonaparte and other expressive capriches." Goya wholeheartedly felt and felt compassion for his people. Weakened and exhausted after the war with Napoleon, Spain suffered, but did not give up. It is impossible to describe what the Spaniards went through during these terrible years of occupation.
Goya creates etchings in which he tries to portray the whole depth of suffering of his native country. In his century came the revolution of 1789, the brutal Inquisition, the war and two more revolutions of the 19th century.
Francisco Goya’s series of etchings “Disasters of War” will reflect the pain experienced by the artist during these years. Horror and fear, pain and despair are read on the faces of the people he depicts.
The brutal suppression of the popular rebellion will be reflected in the engraving "The shooting of rebels on the night of May 3rd." The whole series is connected with the heroic struggle of the people of Spain for their freedom. Goya depicts a soldier who is trying to rape a girl and gets stabbed in the back by an old woman, in the engraving "They Don't Want". He draws many corpses shouting "I saw it!". His work is shocking and does not allow to forget the nightmare that every Spaniard went through in those terrible years.
The etching "Truth is Dead" ends the series of etchings. In the center of the picture lies a naked girl personifying Spain, and men pray over her. A very symbolic conclusion.
Goya etchings are expressive, the types of people depicted impress with their emotionality. Dynamic stories excite the imagination. In the form of a fable, a story, the artist exposes the true court, the noble nobles, the clergy and all the vices of society, which are daily observed among people.
Disparates
Another series of prints from 22 sheets. These are illustrations of parables and proverbs. Goya's etchings depicted creepy, gloomy and frightening. These engravings were created between 1816-1820, when the artist was almost deaf. At this time he lived alone, and increasingly his works were overshadowed by the events of the past years. Someone sees madness in these works, and someone sees the nightmares of a lonely deaf person.
This mysterious series of etchings was the last in the work of the great artist.
The memory of Goya
Of course, such a talented and extraordinary artist could not pass away without a trace. Over his long career, he created many story paintings, such as "Uprising", "Giants", "Seller of dishes." Having become a court painter, he paints many portraits of the most famous personalities of that time.
His portrait works - “Families of the Duke and Duchess of Osuna”, “Family of Charles IV”, “Naked Mach” - are now kept in the most famous museums in the world.
Seven films were made about Goya, the most famous of which is Ghosts of Goya.
In 1930, a postage stamp dedicated to Francisco Goye was issued in Spain.
In 1986, an asteroid was named after the artist.
Finally
During his life, the artist Francisco Goya was very famous, he became a famous portrait painter and a fairly wealthy citizen of his country. However, the etchings of Francisco Goya did not become so widely known in his time. They will be published only 35 years after the death of the author.
But no matter how many years have passed, the themes that the artist raises in his engravings are relevant to this day. Human vices have not disappeared, and the horrors of war have not changed at all: all the same blood, violence and corpses. At different times, those indifferent have fought in different ways with the injustice and impunity of their era. Francisco Goya possessed a multifaceted talent, which allowed him to express his indifference to what is happening around in engravings. Now his etchings are exhibited at the Prado Museum and in the Palace of Liria in Madrid.