Special Exhibition Review: Goya's Last Works

I had long wondered if Francisco Goya's last years on this earth were marked by (1) lead poisoning, (2) peste (that which is now supposed to have been some form of yellow fever, rampant in Madrid in 1819) or (3) early onset Alzheimer's, for the man was clearly on some exclusive mental trip that wouldn't be revisited - for another 110 years, or so - until the day of the Surrealists. Stan Parchin, Senior Correspondent for Museums and Special Exhibitions, had a good, long look at Goya's Last Works this past week at The Frick Collection. After reading his review, I have come to believe two things.

First, that Goya's dark - very dark - late works, particularly those included in Los Caprichos, may have been the result of bitterness, rather than any systemic illness. It certainly would have been a vile pill to swallow, finding one's liberal socio-political self in Spain in the 1820s. Seemingly everything that Goya produced in this late period was met with great enthusiasm - except, initially, in his native land.

And secondly, I will never again view innocently swinging on a swing in the same light. Swearing off forever that which I thought was the rhythmic joy of soaring skyward, in the event that Art Historians may be watching. (I leave this little treasure hunt through the review up to you, Dear Reader.) Heartfelt thanks to Stan for this enlightening article. On so many levels, he has once again been most educational.