Between 16 March and 24 June, 2012 visitors to the CaixaForum in Barcelona could see Goya: Light and Shade, a major exhibition devoted to the artist’s work organised by the Museo del Prado and Obra Social “la Caixa” as the result of a collaborative agreement signed by the two institutions last year.
The exhibition numbered 96 works, comprising 27 oil paintings, 44 drawings, 23 prints and 2 preparatory cartoons. They included works such as The Clothed Maja, The Parasol, Witches’ Flight (see Exhibit List below)
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and I am still learning, meaning that for the first time in thirty years a large and outstanding selection of Goya’s work from the Museo del Prado was presented in Catalonia.
The richness of the Prado’s holdings of Goya, which can almost be described as a separate museum within the Museum, allows for major exhibitions that fully reflect his oeuvre. A chronological presentation revealed all the facets of Goya’s art and the principal phases of his career. The exhibition ranged from his early years, in which his realist style contrasted with the elaborate Rococo of his contemporaries, up to the highly personal works produced in Bordeaux at the end of his life and encompassed the drama of the Peninsular War that marked a turning point in his career.
The exhibition was structured into fifteen self-sufficient sections that constitute short visual accounts which analyze many of the principal themes that recur throughout the artist’s oeuvre and reflect the social reality of the times in which Goya lived, defined by the monarchy and aristocracy and by intellectuals and friends of the artist.
Exhibit List
1. This is how I am. Self-portraits
1. Letter by Goya to Martín Zapater [2 August 1794?]
Ink on paper, 208 x 153 mm
2. Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas, 45.8 x 35.6 cm
1815
3. Preparatory drawing for Capricho 43 "Sueño 1. Universal Language. Drawn and engraved by Francisco de Goya in the year 1797. The author dreaming. His only intention is to banish harmful common bekiefs and to perpetuate with this work of caprichos the sound testimony of truth
Pencil and ink on paper, 24.7 x 17.2 cm
1797
2. Invention and Execution. Social critique in the tapestry cartoons
4. The Parasol
Oil on canvas, 104 x 152 cm
1777
5. Maja and Cloaked Men or Paseo de Andalucía
Oil on canvas, 275 x 190 cm
1777
6. The Rendezvous
Oil on canvas, 100 x 151 cm
1779 - 1780
7. Boys Climbing a Tree
Oil on canvas, 141 x 111 cm
1791 - 1792
8. Fair at Madrid
Oil on canvas, 258 x 218 cm
1778 - 1779
9. Blind Man's Buff
Oil on canvas, 41 x 44 cm
1788
10. Injured Mason
Oil on canvas, 268 x 110 cm
1786 - 1788
3. Lies and Infidelity. From the image of woman in the Sanlúcar Album to the private cabinet
11. The Straw Manikin
Oil on canvas, 267 x 160 cm
1791 - 1792
12a. Young woman sweeping. Album A, n.
Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, 17.2 x 10.1 cm
c. 1795
12b. Young woman arranging her hair. Album A, m.
Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, 17.2 x 10.1 cm
c. 1795
13a. Concert. Album B, 27
Watercolour and Indian Ink on paper, 23.5 x 14.5 cm
1796 - 1797
13b. Group of majas on the paseo. Album B, 28
Watercolour and Indian Ink on paper, 23.5 x 14.5 cm
1796 - 1797
14. Washerwomen
Oil on canvas, 218 X 166 cm
1779 - 1780
15. The Duchess of Alba and Her Dueña
Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 cm
1795
16. Preparatory drawing for Capricho 5] Sueño 19. The old women laugh themselves sick because they know he hasn't a bean
Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, 24.5 x 18.5 cm
1797 - 1798
17. Capricho 61. Volavérunt
Watercolour, 21.7 x 15.2 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (first proof)
18. The Witches’ Flight
Watercolour on paper, 20.5 x 13.3 cm
1797 - 1798
19. Capricho 17. Well carried
Watercolour, 21.8 x 15.3 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (proof)
20. Capricho 26. They already have a seat
Watercolour, 21.7 x 15.2 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (first edition)
21. Clothed Maja
Oil on canvas, 95 x 190 cm
c. 1800 - 1807
4. Caricatures, Dreams and Caprices. Freedom and self-censorship in the creative process of the Caprichos
22a. Merry caricature. Album B, 63
Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, 23.2 x 14.2 cm
1796 - 1797
22b. She is waiting for him to come. Album B, 64
Watercolour and Indian ink on paper, 23.2 x 14.2 cm
1796 - 1797
23. Preparatory drawing for Capricho 13. Sueño 25. Dream of some men who were eating us up
Ink on paper, 24.2 x 16.7 cm
1797 - 1798
24. Capricho 13. They are hot
Etching, 21.6 x 15.4 cm
1797 - 1798
25. Capricho 13. They are hot
Etching, 21.6 x 15.4 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (first edition)
26. Sueño 6. Proclamation of witches banning those under thirty however great their merit may be
Ink on paper, 23.1 x 15.3 cm
1797 - 1798
27. Preparatory drawing not executed in print. Proclamation of witches
Red watercolour on paper, 20 x 13.5 cm
1797 - 1798
28. Capricho 69. Blow
Watercolour, 21.3 x 14.8 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (second edition)
5. Scenes of Asses. Satires on human behaviour in the Caprichos
29. Capricho 37. What if the pupil knows more?
Etching and watercolour, 21.5 x 15.3 cm
1797 - 1798
30. Preparatory drawing for Capricho 39. As far back as his grandfather
Watercolour on paper, 21.2 x 15.8 cm
1797 – 1798
31. Capricho 39. As far back as his grandfather.
Etching, 21.5 x 15 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (second edition)
32. Capricho 38. Brabisimo
Etching, 21.7 x 15.1 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (first edition)
33. Preparatory drawing for Capricho 42. Thou who canst not
Watercolour, 24.2 x 16.6 cm
1797 - 1798
6. Infernal gatherings. Witchcraft and irrationality in the Caprichos
34. The Witches’ Flight
Oil on canvas, 43.5 x 30.5 cm
1797
35. Capricho 64. Bon voyage
Watercolour, 21.7 x 15.2 cm
1797 - 1798
36. Capricho 59. And still they don't go!
Watercolour, 21.5 x 15.2 cm
1797 - 1798
37. Sueño 2. Witches Rehearsal
Etching, 21.4 x 15.1 cm
1797 - 1798
38. Capricho 62. Blowers
Etching, 20.7 x 15.1 cm
1797 – 1798 / 1799 (first edition)
7. From the monarch downward. The portrait as psychological study
39. The King Charles IV in Red
Oil on canvas, 127.3 x 94.3 cm
c. 1789
40. María Josefa de Borbón y Sajonia, Princess of Spain
Oil on canvas, 72 x 59 cm
1800
41. Francisco de Paula Antonio de Borbón y Borbón-Parma, Prince of Spain
Oil on canvas, 72 x 59 cm
1800
42. José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca
Oil on canvas, 175 x 112 cm
1783
43. Don Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Oil on canvas, 205 x 133 cm
1798
44. Manuela Goicoechea y Galarza
Oil on copper, 8.1 cm diameter
1805
45. Josefa Bayeu or Leocadia Zorrilla (?)
Oil on canvas,82.5 x 58.2 cm
1812 - 1814
46. Duchess of Abrantes
Oil on canvas, 92 x 70 cm
1816
8. Fatal Consequences. Goya’s tragic gaze
47. Preparatory drawing for Desastre 55. The worst is to beg
Pencil on paper, 17 x 21.8 cm
c. 1812
48. Desastre 55. The worst is to beg
Etching, 15.5 x 20.6 cm
1810 – 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
49. Preparatory drawing for Desastre 44. I saw this
Pencil on paper, 17.7 x 23.4 cm
1810 - 1815
50. Preparatory drawing for Desastre 50. Unhappy mother!
Paper, 17 x 21.9 cm
c. 1813
51. Desastre 11. They don’t want to
Etching, 16.1 x 21.1 cm
1810 – 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
52. Desastre 9. They don’t want to
Etching, 15.5 x 20.5 cm
1810- 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
53. Desastre 64. Carriot to the cementery
Etching, 15.5 x 20.6 cm
1810 – 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
54.Dead Fowl
Oil on canvas, 46 x 64 cm
1806
55. Desastre 22. This and more
Etching, 16 x 25 cm
1810 – 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
56. Desastre 18. Bury and be quiet
Paper, 16 x 23.5 cm
1810 – 1815 / 1863 (first edition)
9. A spectacle of misfortune. The critical vision of the Tauromaquia
57. The Novillada or Amateur Bullfight
Oil on canvas, 259 x 136 cm
1779 - 1780
58. Preparatory drawing for Tauromaquia. Another madness of his [Martincho's] in the same ring
Paper, 18.7 x 31.4 cm
1815
59. Preparatory drawing for Tauromaquia 27. The celebrated picador, Fernando del Toro, inciting the wild beast with his pique
Watercolour on paper, 18.7 x 31.7 cm
1815 - 1816
60. Preparatory drawing for Tauromaquia B. Horse thrown by a bull
Paper, 18.8 x 31.8 cm
1815
61.Tauromaquia 12. Weakening of the rabble with spears and other weapons
Etching, 25 x 35 cm
1816 (first edition)
62. Preparatory drawing for Tauromaquia 21. Dreadful incidents which occured in the front rows of the ring at Madrid, and death of the mayor of Torrejon
Paper, 18.5 x 30 cm
1815 - 1816
63. Tauromaquia 21. Dreadful incidents which occured in the front rows of the ring at Madrid, and death of the mayor of Torrejon
Etching, 24.5 x 35.5 cm
1816 (first edition)
10. Nightmares. Madness and the irrational in the Album C drawings
64. Another [Vision] in the Same Night. Album C, 40
Watercolour and ink on paper, 20.5 x 14.1 cm
1803 - 1824
65. The Third [Vision] in the Same [Night]. Album C, 41
Watercolour and ink on paper, 20.5 x 14.1 cm
1803 - 1824
66. The Fifth [Vision]. Album C, 43
Watercolour and ink on paper, 20.5 x 14.2 cm
1803 - 1824
11. Piety and Punishment. Images of religiosity and criticism
67. Immaculate Conception
Oil on canvas, 80 x 41 cm
1783 - 1784
68. Saints Justa and Rufina
Oil on panel, 45 x 29 cm
1817
69. Young Saint John the Baptist in the Desert
Oil on canvas, 105 x 90 cm
c. 1810
70. Dreams of a novice Witch
Paper, 21 x 16.6 cm
71. For wagging his tongue in a different way. Album C, 89
Watercolour on paper, 20.5 x 14.3 cm
1808 - 1814
72. It's better to die. Album C, 103
Watercolour and ink on paper, 20.4 x 14.2 cm
1808 - 1814
73. For discovering the motion of the earth. Album C, 94
Watercolour and ink on paper, 20.5 x 14.4 cm
1808-1814
12. Light in the Darkness. Vision of a mad world
74. Disparate 13. Way of flying
Etching, 24.5 x 36 cm
1816 - 1819
75. Falling Demon
Watercolour on paper, 22 x 32.5 cm
c. 1819
76. Preparatory drawing for Disparate 15. Clear folly
Watercolour on paper, 23.7 x 32.5 cm
c. 1815
77. Disparate 15. Clear folly
Watercolour, etching, 24.5 x 35.5 cm
1816 - 1819
78. Two figures pointing to a bright opening
Watercolour on paper, 22.2 x 31.6 cm
c. 1819
13. Grotesque Fables. Human follies and animal dreams in the Bordeaux Album G
79. Great folly. Album G, 9
Pencil on paper, 19.2 x 15.2 cm
1824 - 1828
80. Bad dream. Album G, a.
Pencil on paper, 19.1 x 15.1 cm
1824 - 1828
81. They spend their life with animals. Album G, 30
Pencil on paper, 19.2 x 14.8 cm
1824 - 1828
82. The flying dog. Album G, 5
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15 cm
1824 - 1828
83. The butterfly bull. Album G, 53
Pencil on paper, 19.4 x 15 cm
1824 - 1828
14. Amusement and Violence. Images of the human condition from the Bordeaux Album H
84. Monk guzzling from a large bowl. Album H, 63
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15.1 cm
1824 - 1828
85. Lay brother on skates. Album H, 28
Pencil on paper, 19.2 x 14.7 cm
1824 - 1828
86. Telegraph. Album H, 54
Pencil on paper, 19.1 x 15.2 cm
1825 - 1828
87. The enema. Album H, 42
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15.5 cm
1824 - 1828
88. Two big men fighting desperately. Album H, 38
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15.4 cm
1824 - 1828
15. I am still learning
89. Self-Portrait
Oil on canvas, 45.8 x 35.6 cm
1815
90. Desastre 1. Sad premonitions
Pencil on paper, 17 x 21.8 cm
c. 1812
91. C.17. This is how useful men end
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15.4 cm
1803 - 1824
92. Disparate 18. Funeral Folly
Etching, 24.5 x 35 cm
1816 - 1819 / 1863 [First edition]
93. Disparate 12. Merry Folly
Etching, 24.5 x 35 cm
1816 - 1819 / 1863 [First edition]
94. Two old peseant women dancing. Álbum H, 35
Pencil on paper, 19 x 14.8 cm
1824 - 1828
95. G. 54. I am still learning
Pencil on paper, 19 x 15.4 cm
1824 - 1828
96. Letter to Joaquín Ferrer. 20 December 1825
Pen, dark ink, 253 x 196 mm
1825
