How Did Francisco Goya Contribute To Romanticism

Goya The Great Francisco Goya was one of the most influential romantic artists from the 19th and 20th century; He is often referred to as both the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Throughout his lifetime his work moved from lighthearted and happy, to deeply cynical. He attributed to Romanticism and modernism in artwork by challenging the rhetoric of the time period and creating work that evoked emotion through unique brush strokes, color choice, and challenging subject matter. Goya attributed to the modern in many ways, but especially by challenging the rhetoric of the time period. During the 18th century, modernism became classified as art that did not just simply record a picture, but one that created its own detailed perception of the world. Goya’s work is an ideal example of the modern. Though he was selected as the “first painter to the king” for King Charles III and served for generations of royalty, Goya was still drawn to the downfalls of humanity and society of the time period. Goya focused on the eternal truth that economic crises, the division of social classes, and certain beliefs can lead to mass psychosis. Goya also valued the artist’s own emotion and perception in

His brush work is so expressive and unique, unlike anything the people had seen before. Before, painting was focused on having precise brush strokes so that the piece was photorealistic, but now it is all about adding to the tone of the piece. His work is not focused on sharp edges but rather using the strokes to move the viewer’s eye all around the piece. For example, in his piece Saturn Devouring His Son, 1819-23, Goya captures the form in these broad expressive brush strokes. These strokes contribute to the overall emotion of the piece by allowing the viewer’s eye to move around the composition entirely , revealing the horrifying subject of the piece. Another