A woman pulling at her hair accompanied by a group of figures; page 76 from the "Images of Spain" Album (F)
Original title: A woman pulling at her hair accompanied by a group of figures; page 76 from the "Images of Spain" Album (F)
kurzbeschreibung
A woman tears at her hair in a gesture of despair, encircled by a group of figures. This sheet by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes was made between about 1812 and 1820, using brush, brown ink washes, and traces of black chalk.
Description
Up front, the woman in a white dress stands with her arms raised, pulling at her hair. Several figures in darker tones are arranged behind her, some in varied poses, partly obscured. A plain landscape with a flat horizon forms the setting. Brown tones dominate, and the lines are fluid and drawing-like.
Context
The sheet belongs to the album 'Images of Spain' (F), a series of drawings Goya made during his stay in Madrid. These albums came about at a time when he turned increasingly to social and psychological questions. What exactly the albums were intended for is not recorded; they probably served as personal notebooks.
Impact
The work has an immediate emotional force, heightened by the woman's expressive gesture and the subdued coloring. The flowing lines and the spare setting direct the viewer's attention to the human figure and her outburst of despair.
Technique
Brush and brown ink washes were used here, supplemented by traces of black chalk. The wash technique allows soft transitions and an atmospheric effect, while the chalk sets fine contours. The small paper format of 20.6 × 14.4 cm points to an intimate, drawing-based work.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)