The horse abductor

Original title: 'The horse abductor' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)

Artist: Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
Date: ca. 1815–19 (published 1864)
Medium: Etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint
Dimensions: Plate: 9 5/8 × 13 3/4 in. (24.5 × 35 cm) Sheet: 13 1/16 × 17 9/16 in. (33.1 × 44.6 cm)
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Henry J. Bernheim, 1936

kurzbeschreibung

A man is dragged through a desolate landscape by a rearing horse. This motif belongs to Francisco de Goya's 'Disparates' (Follies/Irrationalities), made around 1815–19 and not published until 1864. The etching is titled 'The Horse Abductor'.

Description

A horse, forelegs high and neck stretched long, pulls a man along. The man hangs in mid-air, arms flung upward, his face a mask of terror, clothes flapping in the wind. A rock and a tree at the edge seem about to be swallowed by the violent motion. The layout is strikingly unbalanced, heightening the force of the event. Diffuse light, sharp outlines, and precisely worked shading define the print.

Context

Goya's 'Disparates' series was created between 1815 and 1819, during a period of political repression after the restoration of the Spanish monarchy. The etchings were not published until 1864, posthumously, by the Academia de San Fernando. The series deals with violence, irrationality, and the depths of human nature—themes that recur in other late works by Goya such as the 'Black Paintings'.

Impact

The expressive face and dramatic movement create an oppressive, nightmarish mood. The unbalanced arrangement and flowing lines make uncontrollable violence and powerlessness palpable.

Technique

Executed as an etching with burnished aquatint and drypoint, the print allows for fine tonal gradations and strong contrasts. The combination of sharp lines and soft shading gives the scene a peculiar depth and texture.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)