“The Nude Maja,” an oil on canvas painting created by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya in 1800, is a seminal work of the Romanticism movement. Measuring 98 by 191 centimeters, the artwork is a significant example of the nude painting genre and is currently housed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The artwork depicts a reclining nude female figure, lying on her back on a bed of pillows and sheets. The subject gazes directly at the viewer, a characteristic that adds a confrontational and engaging aspect to the piece. Her torso and legs are bathed in a soft light that highlights the contours and texture of her skin, while the darker background contrasts and accentuates her form. The exquisite rendering of the fabrics on which she reclines shows a delicate interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the sensual atmosphere of the scene. The composition, provocative for its time, and the skillful execution by Goya have solidified “The Nude Maja” as a celebrated and pivotal work in the history of Western art.
