Francisco Goya’s painting, “Two Old Women Eating From A Bowl,” depicts two women sitting together on a low bench and eating from a bowl. The women seem to be in deep concentration as they focus on their meal, which is likely one of the only sources of sustenance they have. This oil painting can be found at the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain.
Painted between 1821-1823, this piece is part of a series of murals that Goya painted on the walls of his home towards the end of his life. The artist’s later years were marked by illness and political turmoil in Spain, which could explain why he chose to depict such a seemingly mundane scene.
Goya’s style broke artistic conventions of his time with vivid depictions that often explored dark themes. For example, “The Nude Maja” depicts a real woman with pubic hair, something that was considered scandalous at the time. Another painting called “Two Old Ones Eating Soup” also features elderly people eating together and it may have inspired this work.
This painting conveys Goya’s knack for capturing profound humanity in everyday life situations. It serves as a reminder that hunger pervades all classes and brings into sharp focus how delicate our existence can become if we do not care for those who age out or become vulnerable due to poverty or political unrest.
