GOYA’S GRAPHIC IMAGINATION
Brilliant Drawings at the Met
There is a new exhibition at the MET beginning on February 12 that you won’t want to miss. The artist in question needs no introduction and is one of the greatest painters of all time. Goya’s Graphic Imagination compiles a selection of Francisco Goya’s drawings and prints that reflect his unique intellect and complex ideas about the era’s unstable social and political scene, which may be similar to this past year.
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1976 – 1828) is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is primarily known for his portraits, drawings, and depictions of key moments in history, such as The Second of May 1808 (1814) and The Third of May 1808 (1814.) Despite a long and prolific career as a court painter for the Spanish crown in 1786, Goya was appointed Director of the Royal Academy in 1795 and is the artist of critical royal portraits. He is also well known for the dark, disturbing works that he produced later in life, including Saturn Devouring his Son (1819 – 1823). But, this piece remains a mystery. We don’t know what went on in Goya’s mind, especially during his later years, but we know that in 1793 he suffered from an undiagnosed illness. It caused him to lose his hearing and triggered the beginning of a new, darker phase. This evolution will be visible chronologically in Goya’s Graphic Imagination.
The MET houses one of the most impressive collections of Goya’s works. Nearly 100 will be in the show, along with pieces borrowed from other collections like the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. After his illness, the artist started recording his thoughts using imagery in different sketchbooks or “journal albums.” (which he could always refer to.) Since we will never know for sure how the artist felt, these drawings are the closest thing to a diary, along with his prints. Historical events around him moved Goya (he was significantly affected by the Peninsular War (1807-1814.) His observations and empathy are also reflected in his drawings, and his interest in depicting violence grew exponentially.
There is no better time than now to dive into Goya’s world and his uneasiness about the socio-political situation. Max Hollein, the Marina Kellen French Director of The Met, said that “this exhibition is an opportunity to further understand the critical role of drawings and prints as an outlet for the artist’s fertile imagination, allowing him to explore subjects that preoccupied him throughout his long life. As a social critic and witness to great turbulence, Goya created art that captured the many aspects of what it means to be human amid challenging times. In today’s complex and uncertain world, Goya’s work resonates powerfully.”
The museum will offer virtual programs plus a video tour. The exhibition opens on Friday, February 12, and runs through May 2.
