Dancing Giant (ca. 1815–19 (private printing ca.1854))
Original title: 'Dancing Giant' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other plates in Goya's 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities), this etching from around 1815–19 centres on a dancing couple. Executed in etching, burnished aquatint and drypoint, it places two figures in a darkened room, their movements at odds with each other.
Description
Two dancers fill the image, yet their bodies face in opposite directions. The smaller figure on the left wears a billowing historical dance costume, arms raised high. On the right stands a noticeably larger person in dark trousers and a shirt-like garment reminiscent of rags, whose exaggerated gestures tip into the comic. The room remains gloomy; light picks out the outlines. This uneven arrangement creates unease, and the tonal values shift almost exclusively between black and grey.
Context
In his late period, from which the 'Disparates' date, Goya turned away from social conventions and took a critical look at human folly. The etchings were not printed until after his death, around 1854, and then privately. Grotesque, irrational scenes define this late work, through which the artist distanced himself from Spanish society and its norms.
Impact
Grotesque exaggeration and murky lighting interlock, making the scene both comic and disturbing. From the figures' expressive gestures grows a tense dynamism that holds the viewer's gaze.
Technique
Etching, burnished aquatint and drypoint were used here. These techniques allowed for fine tonal gradations and strong contrasts that support the dramatic lighting. The sheet measures 26.6 x 37 cm, the plate 24.3 x 35 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)