The artwork titled “Four Yard Long Snake in Bordeaux,” attributed to the renowned artist Francisco Goya, was created approximately between the years 1824 and 1828. It exhibits qualities of the Romanticism movement and is classified as a genre painting. Goya utilized paper as his medium for this piece, and currently, it is held within a private collection.
The artwork portrays a powerful scene involving a figure and an enormous serpent. The human figure stands centrally, with arms outstretched, seeming to hold or struggle with the sizable snake that drapes over the shoulders and extends outward on both sides. The depiction exudes a dramatic flair, consistent with the emotional intensity often embraced by the Romantic era. The snake’s body is depicted with sinuous curves, emphasizing its length and movement. The strokes and shading within the piece suggest a sense of hurried motion or turmoil, capturing a moment filled with tension.
Text inscribed on the artwork itself may serve as a description or title, linking the scene to a narrative possibly known to the contemporaries of Goya. The expressive quality of the drawing, together with the stark contrasts of light and dark, contribute to a foreboding atmosphere, which is a hallmark of Goya’s later works where he often delved into themes of human struggle, fantasy, and the grotesque.
