![]() ![]() In Spain it’s known as Museo Nacional del Prado. It comes as little surprise that this painting by the Spanish master Francisco de Goya sits in the Museo del Prado. Romantic works also tend to have organic compositions rather than mechanical. They can be landscapes, religious, and revolutionary. Many romantic paintings don’t include people. That can even include imagination, zeal, and mystery. They focus on emotions and moods of all kinds. Contrary to what many believe, Romantic paintings are not necessarily about romance. This emotional powerhouse painting fits into the Romantic category of art. What kind of painting is The Colossus by Francisco de Goya? Others in art history have also referred to this painting as El Pánico (The Panic) and La Tormenta (The Storm). Of course, it’s a Spanish painting and thus it’s sometimes called El Coloso (The Colossus) and El Gigante (The Giant). That’s a reference to the mythical creature The Giant. What other names are there for the The Colossus painting? He painted it with a powerful central figure facing danger eye-to-eye. It’s only a tragic portrait if you choose that adventure. Yet his masterpiece shows us Goya’s strength. War ravaged Spain while his life played out its final act. When Goya painted this, between 18, he was old, deaf, and lonely. The fear could be real or representational. You can give the story a happy ending or the same portrait could convey a tragedy. We learn about ourselves with each interpretation. This painting’s a masterpiece because it works both ways. But viewing him as a protector makes just as much sense. It’s valid to see The Colossus as a threat. He’s ungrounded and seems to float in the clouds naked like some sort of furious angel. The amorphous standing of the giant represents our fear of the unknown. From the mythical giant to the oxen racing off to our right – it’s terror terror everywhere. The only thing we know for sure is that everybody in this painting feels afraid. It could be that they fear whatever he faces. We don’t know if these freaking out figures fear The Colossus. People often panic in the face of confusion. Or on a bad day it may even scatter our villagers within. Is he standing in a different realm? This confusion represents another element of fear. ![]() There’s not enough room in this world for his giant legs. Even with the mountains behind him, no cliff is that steep. Take a closer look at The Colossus and the origin of danger isn’t the only mystery. Rather than run he stands to face fear head on. Our giant, though, reveals the powerful part. The frenetic figures below show panic and chaos as well. This clenched hand represents the painting’s emotional core. He’s facing off with someone or something that requires full attention. That’s in large part because he has his back to them and us. ![]() In many ways the giant looks like a defender of Spain. That’s because neither of them shielded the Spanish from danger. If we choose to see The Colossus figure as one of these leaders, he’s not playing the protector. They were also aggressive a lot like this ready-to-punch giant. Fernando and Napolean both had colossal egos. These were the major players wreaking devastation on Spain at the time of this work. So, many think El Gigante is the incompetent Fernando VII of Spain or Napolean. Spanish painter Francisco de Goya created The Colossus during Napoleon’s siege of Spain. He’s solid and sure, the opposite of Spain’s frantic figures below.Ĭlick below for the podcast version of this post. But he grounds the otherwise dynamic composition. The giant also hovers over the scene like a cloud himself. He’s naked, as fear itself is often described. But even more important, they bring his meaning into question.ĭoes he protect the people below? Or is he what they fear? It could be both. Clouds tickle the looming giant and disguise details. That’s because even though we know a lot about this historic work, mastery lies in its subtle imagery. An eerie mystery permeates The Colossus by Francisco de Goya. ![]()
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