Nanny’s boy (1799) by Francisco Goya

Nanny's boy - Francisco Goya - 1799

Artwork Information

TitleNanny's boy
ArtistFrancisco Goya
Date1799
Mediumetching,paper
Dimensions20.9 x 15.1 cm
Art MovementRomanticism
Current LocationPrivate Collection

About Nanny's boy

The artwork under consideration is “Nanny’s boy” by Francisco Goya, created in 1799. This work is an etching on paper that is part of the “Los Caprichos” series and exemplifies the Romanticism art movement. The piece is a caricature with dimensions of 20.9 x 15.1 cm and is presently held in a private collection.

The artwork portrays a figure conspicuously in the attire and pose suggestive of childhood dependence. The subject is clothed in a somewhat elaborate dress, complete with adornments that could be interpreted as symbols of the caregiver’s affection or control. Remarkably, the subject grips a handkerchief close to the face, mimicking a gesture frequently associated with emotional comfort or perhaps secrecy, evoking a certain psychological complexity in the depiction. This scene is steeped in darkness, which may serve to accentuate a sense of intimacy or to critique the societal norms the piece possibly aims to satirize. Underneath the figure, a phrase in Spanish appears to offer commentary or insight pertaining to the scene, fitting with Goya’s tendencies to fuse visual art with provocative textual elements.

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