Funereal Folly from the Disparates (Follies / Irrationalities)
Original title: 'Funereal Folly' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
kurzbeschreibung
A motionless figure lies on the ground, surrounded by hooded figures in traditional dress — this is the core of "Funereal Folly" (Begräbnis-Torheit), a sombre plate from Goya's "Disparates" (Follies). The etching with burnished aquatint was made around 1815–19 but printed only privately around 1854.
Description
A person stretches out on the ground in the foreground, while another bends over them, as if checking their condition or mourning. Behind, more figures stand looking in different directions and making various gestures. The arrangement feels asymmetrical, deep shadows run through the sheet, and only sparse light falls from the upper left. Grey tones dominate, creating an oppressive mood.
Context
The "Disparates" were created between 1815 and 1819, but printed only in 1854 in a private setting. Goya made this series at the end of his life, during a phase of political turmoil after the restoration of Bourbon rule in Spain. These plates rank among his most enigmatic and pessimistic works and resist any single interpretation.
Impact
Shadows govern the image and evoke a melancholic, stifling atmosphere. The unclear situation — is it death, faintness, or mourning? — leaves the viewer at a loss, which only heightens the unsettling effect.
Technique
This plate is an etching with burnished aquatint, which allows a fine gradation of grey tones. The aquatint produces soft, painterly shadow areas, while the etched lines contour the figures. The format of 24.5 × 35 cm is typical for the series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)