Francisco Goya's Dark Works - An Analysis

Francisco Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker during the Romantic Age. Goya is seen by many as not only the last of the great Old Painters, but also the first Modern Painter in the western world. During his career in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, he grew to be one of the most important Spanish artists of all time. Though revered for his work at his height, the works of Goya took a dark turn in his later years. Goya made two large collections, an etching series titled "The Caprichos," and a collection of paintings now known as his "Black Paintings." Both sets of works served as a way for Goya to explore the darker aspects of humanity and society through art. Here, I will analyze one work from each set, and provide my views on what Goya has created.

The image above is Goya's Caprichos Number 48, titled Sopolones (Tale-Bearers - Blasts of wind). This etching, imprinted on paper in the dimensions of 205 x 150 mm (8.1 x 5.9 in), was made from 1796-1797 and published in 1799. It depicts what appears to be a winged beast attacking someone or something. I chose this etching over the others due to the framing of the subjects, particularly, the flying creature. Rather than cut down the size of the scene to focus on the faces, Goya illustrated the entirety of the creature's wing extending upwards into the sky. This feature gives the scene a great deal more openness, and helps to portray the events as occurring outside. Like the rest of Goya's Caprichos, this image has a deeper meaning. Perhaps it is some form of satire on some aspect of life during that age, or it stands as a warning to something? Honestly, I find it difficult to discern what exactly is going on in this work, and what it could possibly mean.

This illustration is titled Duel with Cudgels, and was painted from 1820-1823. It is an oil-on-canvas medium, with dimensions of 123 x 266 cm (48.4 x 104.7 in). I chose this painting over the rest because of how different it was from most of Goya's other "Black Paintings." Unlike most of the others in the collection, this painting is brighter and less unnerving. It has a full background, rather than a black void, behind the subjects, and depicts the subjects off-center. There is more energy in this work, the two men are attacking one-another with weapons, while their legs are buried in sand or mud. I believe this painting is a sort of depiction of the violent nature of man, wherein mankind is "stuck" with fighting itself, and even if one side wins, it has not really gone anywhere. Perhaps it is a commentary on the pointlessness of war or violence? 

So, of his many later works, which of Goya's do you like? Of the two presented here, do you see a deeper meaning that I did not?