The artwork entitled “Blow” was created by renowned artist Francisco Goya in 1799. As a work on paper, it was executed using a sophisticated combination of aquatint, drypoint, and etching, measuring 21.4 x 15.2 centimeters. The piece is part of Goya’s “Los Caprichos” series, and it falls within the Romanticism movement, categorized specifically as a caricature. Currently, the artwork is housed within a private collection, away from the public eye.
“Blow” by Francisco Goya presents an enigmatic and unsettling scene that is characteristic of his “Los Caprichos” series. The artwork features a group of grim and ghostly figures engaged in obscure interaction. Central to the composition is a skeletal female figure who appears to be striking a crouched male figure with her foot. Surrounding these two are other figures with exaggerated and distorted features, adding a nightmarish quality to the tableau. The use of chiaroscuro, with stark contrasts between light and dark, enhances the disturbing emotional impact of the scene. The artwork’s layered meanings and social commentary are typical of Goya’s work during this period, inviting viewers to reflect on the human condition and societal ills.
