Pasadena, Norton Simon Museum shows Francisco de Goya

»I Saw It«: Goya's famous prints

For the first time in the western United States, Francisco de Goya's four large series of prints are on view in their entirety: The Norton Simon Museum provides extensive insight into the artist's dark observations in I Saw It: Francisco de Goya, Printmaker. The exhibition opens in Pasadena on April 19.

April 19, 2024
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828) Disparates: A Way of Flying (Modo de volar), 1864
The Norton Simon Foundation F.1973.14.07.13.G
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828) Disparates: A Way of Flying (Modo de volar), 1864 Etching, burnished aquatint, lavis, drypoint and burin, before engraved numbers, on wove paper Plate: 9 5/8 x 13 3/4 in. (24.5 x 35 cm); sheet: 12 15/16 x 18 7/8 in. (32.9 x 48 cm)

The Spaniard Francisco de Goya (1746-1828) is representative of a change in art: he was a famous court painter whose portraits were sought after throughout Europe. This Renaissance profession died out around 1800, making Goya the last of the Old Masters. At the same time, he is considered the »first modern artist«, who influenced many future generations of artists. The reason for this lies in Goya's series of socially critical prints. Goya ironically and mercilessly denounced superstition, prostitution and the abuse of power by aristocrats and the church or showed the unimaginable cruelties of war in a way never seen before. Some prints were removed from the market shortly after publication, others were only published decades after Goya's death: the criticism went far beyond what was considered socially acceptable. The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is now showing all four major series in their entirety in the exhibition I Saw It: Francisco de Goya, Printmaker. From April 19 to August 5, visitors can take this rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Goya's world.

Goya's famous print series are entitled Los Caprichos (The Caprices), Desastres de la Guerra (The Disasters of War), La Tauromaquia (Bullfight Scenes) and Los Disparates (Follies). They were created between 1796 and 1824, but some were only published many years later. The more than 200 sheets in total are unique testimonies to their time and some, such as The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, which shows Goya himself asleep at a table surrounded by bats, owls and a lynx, are widely used in pop culture today. In addition to Goya's prints, the Norton Simon Museum is also exhibiting artworks by subsequent artists who refer to Goya. These include Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Leon Golub, Enrique Chagoya and Yinka Shonibare.Art.Salon

Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828) Caprichos: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (El sueño de la razon produce monstruos), 1799
Norton Simon Art Foundation M.1978.02.1.43.G
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828) Caprichos: The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (El sueño de la razon produce monstruos), 1799 Etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint and burin on laid paper Plate: 8 7/16 x 5 7/8 in. (21.5 x 15 cm); sheet: 12 x 8 in. (30.5 x 20.3 cm)

Recent auction results of Francisco de Goya

Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes - Los Caprichos
Auction
Old Master Prints
July 2024
Christies, London
Est.: 15.000 - 25.000 GBP
Realised: 20.160 GBP
Details
Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes - Los Caprichos
Auction
Old Master Prints
July 2024
Christies, London
Est.: 120.000 - 180.000 GBP
Realised: 126.000 GBP
Details
Francisco de Goya - Las rinde el Sueño (Der Schlaf überwindet sie)
Auction
Druckgrafik
May 2024
Karl & Faber
Est.: -1 - -1 EUR
Realised: 1.206 EUR
Details
Francisco de Goya - Aquellos polbos (Aus Staub wird Schmutz)
Auction
Druckgrafik
May 2024
Karl & Faber
Est.: -1 - -1 EUR
Realised: 1.206 EUR
Details
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes - Modo de volar (A Way of Flying) from Los Proverbios
Auction
Prints & Photographs
January 2024
Bonhams, Skinner Boston (Online Auction)
Est.: 300 - 500 USD
Realised: 2.816 USD
Details
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes - The Little Prisoner
Auction
Prints & Photographs
January 2024
Bonhams, Skinner Boston (Online Auction)
Est.: 300 - 500 USD
Realised: 1.088 USD
Details

Dive deeper into the art world

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First bronze sculptures by Mathias Kadolph

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December 20, 2024