Thoughts on the less-discussed Goya Black Paintings?
I’ve been looking at Goya’s Black Paintings. I know Saturn Devouring His Son gets most of the attention, but I’m curious what people think about some of the others in the series.
A few that stood out to me:
Man Mocked by Two Women — This one is strange because the scene seems both sexual and humiliating. The two women appear to be laughing at a man who is masturbating or exposing himself. I’m curious how people read the expressions and body language here, because the painting feels less like a clear narrative and more like a weird private moment being witnessed.
Witches’ Sabbath — The goat figure, seemingly dressed in priest-like clothing, appears to be preaching or addressing the group in front of him. What stands out to me is the contrast between the central figure and the crowd, especially the frightened or blank-looking women. I’m interested in how people understand the composition and the way Goya presents the group.
Two Old Men / Two Monks — This one stands out because of the figure in the background, who looks almost like a creature dressed in monk’s clothing, yelling into the older man’s ear. The older man in front seems passive or withdrawn, while the figure behind him feels intrusive and aggressive. I’m curious what people make of that relationship between the two figures.
Two Old Ones Eating Soup — This one interests me because the scene is so ordinary on the surface: two figures sitting at a table eating. But one of them looks almost corpse-like, which makes the simple act of eating feel strange. I’m curious how people interpret the contrast between the normal domestic setting and the appearance of the figures.
Men Reading — This one stands out because it seems much more normal than a lot of the others. It just shows a group of men reading a book or document together. But because it belongs to the Black Paintings, I find myself wondering why Goya included it and what details I might be missing.
I’m curious how people interpret these less-discussed paintings. Are there specific visual details, historical background, or art-historical readings that helped you understand them better?