The artwork titled “The Burial of the Sardine (Corpus Christi Festival on Ash Wednesday)” was crafted by the esteemed artist Francisco Goya between the years of 1812 and 1814. This artwork exemplifies the medium of oil on canvas and encapsulates the essence of the Romanticism movement. The piece measures 60 x 82 cm and is classified under the genre painting category. It can be witnessed at the prestigious Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, situated in Madrid, Spain.
“The Burial of the Sardine” depicts the lively and chaotic festivities of the Spanish popular tradition known as “El Entierro de la Sardina,” which marks the end of Carnival and the onset of Lent. Goya captures the tumultuous energy of the crowd, where whimsical and grotesque masked figures, costumed revelers, and musicians are immersed in a joyous yet macabre dance around a large, eerie effigy that towers above them. The exaggerated facial expressions and fervent movements convey a sense of abandon and transgression, emblematic of Goya’s mastery in portraying the complexities of human nature and societal critiques.
In the composition, the range of emotions is palpable, with some participants showing exuberance while others seem almost possessed in their revelry. The contrast between the dark foreboding background and the spirited, well-lit figures in the foreground accentuates the dichotomy of life and death, celebration and mourning inherent to the ceremony being depicted. The artwork remains a powerful expression of cultural rituals and their deeper psychological resonances, as interpreted through Goya’s Romantic lens.
