An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Young Woman (possibly a sex worker) with a Man (recto); Young Woman Wringing Her Hands over a Man's Naked Body (verso)Madrid Album "B"
1796–97
Francisco de Goya
Among the great figures of the pictorial arts in the West, Francisco de Goya is one of the very few whose work as a graphic artist is arguably even more important than his paintings. Alongside a prodigious output of prints, he created eight sketchbooks of drawings over the course of 30 years. This double-sided sheet comes from the so-called Album B, or Madrid Album, which, like all of them, was scattered throughout the world in public and private collections after his death. The drawings reveal Goya’s powers of invention and observation, and his biting satire. On the recto side of the sheet, a vulgar encounter between a prostitute and a pot-bellied lecher reveals the bluntness of the Goya’s social criticism. The verso drawing is less easily pinned down, though it follows traditional iconography for representations of Saint Margaret of Cortona, a nobleman’s mistress who repented and entered a convent after her lover’s dog led her to his murdered corpse.
Much of Francisco de Goya's graphic output of drawings and prints was not made public until well after his death.
brush and black and gray wash
Image: 18.7 x 12 cm (7 3/8 x 4 3/4 in.); Sheet: 23.5 x 14.5 cm (9 1/4 x 5 11/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In the quiet corners of art history, the name Francisco de Goya resonates like a haunting melody, drawing you into the depths of human experience. He stands as a giant among artists, famed not just for his vibrant canvases, but for his graphic artistry, which whispers truths that paint with stark realism. In a way that few can match, Goya's prints, crafted with the diligent hands of a dedicated artisan, speak volumes even louder than his paintings.
Imagine, for a moment, Goya hunched over his workbench, ink-stained fingers creating a world beyond the ordinary—a realm where his sharp eye for observation met a heart brimming with poignant satire. Over thirty years, he poured out his creativity into eight intricate sketchbooks, a treasure of ideas and emotions, now scattered globally, like autumn leaves caught in the wind.
One such piece from this collection—a sheet from the famous Album B, or Madrid Album—holds stories on both of its sides, like a two-faced coin. On the recto, a stark narrative unfolds: a crude encounter between a pot-bellied lecher and a prostitute. Their figures, drawn with an unflinching gaze, clad in the rawness of society's underbelly, echo Goya’s searing social criticism. It’s a confrontation so blunt that it makes you pause, inviting reflection on the harsh realities of human desire and desperation.
But turn the sheet over, and the atmosphere shifts. On the verso, a less identifiable scene emerges, yet it echoes with historical weight. Here, Goya invokes the tale of Saint Margaret of Cortona—a nobleman's mistress who, swept away by grief after her lover's tragic end, finds her way to redemption in a convent, guided by an unexpected source: the loyal dog that uncovered his grim fate.
This juxtaposition of raw debauchery and the quest for salvation embodies the complexity of life itself—a narrative that dances between the shadows of ferocity and the whisperings of hope. Goya, with his masterful hand, invites us all to consider the spectrum of humanity, leaving us not only with art but the understanding that every brushstroke and etching harbors a story waiting to be unveiled, urging us to explore the depths of our own narratives.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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