Wanted to get in on posting the Black Paintings, which seeing was the most significant art experience of my life
The Dog is one of Goya’s Black Paintings, which he painted directly onto the walls of his house sometime between 1819 and 1823 when he was in his mid-70s, living alone and suffering from acute mental and physical distress. He did not intend the paintings for public exhibition, and they were not removed from the house until 50 years after Goya had left.
The placard for The Dog painting in The Prado indicates the dog is in distress, quite literally, drowning.
Had to really stare at this to make sense. Were these actually sections of wall taken from Goya’s house?
Yes, literally.
They were, and their display at the Prado is incredible.
Might have to make a trip :)
What made it so significant for you?
I don’t know much about Art as such, but Goya was deeply impacted by the Spanish Civil War and retreated, while losing his sight, to paint giant paintings on the walls of his home portraying his deep sadness from watching his countrymen kill each other. The Prado cut the walls off his home and hung them for display, and you can feel the pain and loss radiating off of them.
Powerful stuff.
