A woman giving a mug to an old man; folio 93 from the 'Images of Spain' Album (F)
Original title: A woman giving a mug to an old man; folio 93 from the "Images of Spain" Album (F)
kurzbeschreibung
Goya drew this sheet for his album 'Bilder von Spanien' (F). It shows a woman holding out a cup to an old man. The work was made between about 1812 and 1820, using brush, brown ink washes, scraping, and touches of black chalk.
Description
With bent knee, the woman – dressed in an apron and headscarf – offers the cup to the seated old man. His face is marked by unease as he watches her hand movement. The darkness of the background remains undefined and draws the eye entirely to the pair facing each other. Brown tones and graduated greys carry the image, produced by hatching and varying ink applications. The approach stays realistic, yet the faces receive sharp, almost dramatic accents.
Context
This sheet belongs to the drawing albums that Goya filled in the years around 1812 to 1820. In them he recorded scenes of everyday life and observations of Spanish society. The period of creation falls in the politically turbulent years after the Napoleonic occupation. Through the albums, Goya preserved personal impressions that are often critical or sympathetic.
Impact
Because the space remains dark and bare and the faces are so expressive, the encounter feels close and immediate. In the woman's gesture and the man's troubled gaze lies a stillness that is subtly tense. The restrained colouring underlines the serious, reflective tone of the sheet.
Technique
Goya worked with brush and brown ink, which he applied in washes; he used scraping to bring out highlights and surfaces. Black chalk was added for finer details. This interplay produced precise shading and a palpable sense of texture.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)