A young woman looking into a well; folio 46 (verso) from the Madrid Album "B"
Original title: A young woman looking into a well; folio 46 (verso) from the Madrid Album "B"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many of Goya's sheets from the same years, which catch figures mid-motion or in conversation, this drawing of 1795–97 fixes a single moment of quiet absorption: a young woman gazing into a well. Made with brush and black washes in shades of grey, the sheet belongs to Album B, known as the Madrid Album.
Description
The young woman occupies the middle of the sheet, hands clasped in front of her, eyes turned down toward the well. She wears a plain, long-sleeved dress, her hair tied in a knot. At the right stands the well with a dipper. A dark, abstract ground surrounds her and throws her forward clearly. Bright passages in the foreground and the gloomy surroundings set up the strong contrast that governs the arrangement.
Context
The sheet dates from the years Goya worked at the court of Charles IV and turned increasingly to intimate scenes of everyday life. The Madrid Album is one of a series of sketchbooks made between 1796 and 1797. Its pages often show women in ordinary situations, which says something about Goya's attention to the lives of women.
Impact
The restrained colour and the play of light and shadow produce a calm, thoughtful mood. Looking down into the depth of the well invites reflection and gives the scene a familiar, almost wistful note.
Technique
Goya worked with brush and point of brush and black washes. This yields soft transitions and deep shadows. The method allowed him to capture figure and space quickly and directly, as is characteristic of his sketchbook pages.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)