Witness: Reality and Imagination in the Prints of Francisco Goya

Exhibition Website

Apr 22 2017 - Sep 6 2017

Goya witnessed decades of political turmoil and social upheaval in Spain as court painter to four successive rulers. Among his greatest achievements were four series of etchings that chronicle the transformation of Spanish society and his own personal visions: Los Caprichos (The Caprices), Los Desastres de la Guerra (The Disasters of War), La Tauromaquia (Bullfighting), and Los Disparates (The Follies). 

Near the end of his life, Goya also produced a set of four grand lithographs known as the Bulls of Bordeaux. This exhibition highlights prints from each series, exploring the imagery and techniques that make Goya one of the greatest graphic artists of all time.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.

Whether or not you go, Great Goya Etchings: The Proverbs, The Tauromaquia and The Bulls of Bordeaux is a stunning gallery of Goya's later works. This lavish volume presents prints from The Proverbs, La Tauromaquia, and The Bulls of Bordeaux. Its 78 etchings recapture the incomparable grandeur of Goya's art as well as the major themes of his works — the Bible, human folly, and the brutal pageantry of bullfighting.

Savage yet sympathetic, the nightmare visions of The Proverbs are among Goya's most enigmatic works. The realism of La Tauromaquia and The Bulls of Bordeaux is similarly striking, with remarkably accurate images of bulls and fighters. Each etching appears with the original caption and an English translation. Additional text sheds light on the life and times of the great Spanish master. Students, collectors, and other art lovers will prize this magnificently reproduced edition, which is also the lowest-priced collection of Goya's etchings.

Great Goya Etchings: The Proverbs, The Tauromaquia and The Bulls of Bordeaux

  • Works on Paper
  • European
  • Francisco de Goya

Exhibition Venues & Dates