Los caprichos ("Caprices"), 18th Century

Pretty teacher!

In 1799 Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) published a series of 80 prints called 'Los Caprichos' in which he "exalts the scribble, the puddle, the blot, the smear, the suggestive beauty of the unfinished--and, above all, the primal struggle of light and dark, that flux from which all consciousness of shape is born.” (literal from biographer Robert Hughes).

Goya suffered from what seems to have been a disabling bout of meningitis in 1792 which left him stone deaf for the remainder of his life. The illness, pain and resulting alienation and depression provided him with a unique insight into a nightmare world of torment that he so ably transfers to his prints.

 

All will fall... Caprice #19

There They Go Plucked. (Caprichos, no. 20 Ya van desplumados.)

Hobgoblins (Caprichos, no 49 Duendecitos)

Goya lived in a time of social upheaval with the French Revolution. This, the religious excesses of the Inquisition, and pain he suffered due to illness were his main influences. He attacks all manner of human superstition, prejudice, hypocrisy and stupidity in his etchings, whilst subtly mocking the church and state for keeping the people in misery and ignorance.

To avoid damage his benefactors (he had strong influences and friends at Royal Court) and to protect himself from the Inquisition, Goya masks his satire with the inclusion of demonic and perverse fantasy figures that defy a single understanding.

Tale Bearers - Blasts of Wind (Caprichos, no 48 Soplones), probably my favourite -with the "here comes the bogey-man"-... I always imagined Goya as the tormented figure below, suffering blasts from outside, these blasts representing the pain...

Nothing could be done about it (going to execution). (Caprichos, no. 24 - No hubo remedio)

Look how solemn they are (Caprichos, no 63 Miren que grabes)

You can´t  (Caprichos, no 42 "Tu que no puedes")

Might the pupil know more (Caprichos, no. 37 "Si sabrá mas el discipulo")

 All references I used on this post:

• Easiest place to see 80 etchings from 'Los Caprichos' is at wikimedia commons
• Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, host of links.
• Goya’s caprices at the Davison Art Center at Wesleyan University.

From the Wesleyan University, my favourite top nº1 is the "here comes the bogey-man", I had some problems to download high res image, so pls follow the link here -click on "zoomable image" and enjoy!!!

The Hours of Catherine of Cleves (15th Century)

Souls Tormented in Purgatory - "..the place to which the dying man hopes to go. There his soul, like those depicted, will be cleansed of sin in expiating, if painful, fire.

The magnificent Hours of Catherine of Cleves is hosted at the Morgan Library online exhibition, titled "Demons and Devotion: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves."

Catherine of Cleves (1417–1476) married Arnold of Egmond (1410 –1473), becoming duchess of Guelders. Although she bore her husband six children, the marriage was not happy.

War between husband and wife was sparked by Arnold's disinheriting his only living son, Adolf (1438–1477; rumor had it that Adolf accused his father of homosexuality). Catherine's siding with her son in the conflict led to anarchy. The cities of Nijmegen, Zutphen, and Arnhem supported Catherine and her son; Roermond sided with the duke. In 1465 mother and son imprisoned Arnold, forcing him to abdicate. Adolf, as duke, spent six years in ceaseless struggles with his father's supporters.

In 1471 Catherine watched in horror as Arnold secured his freedom and regained his title while Adolf was imprisoned. Arnold died in 1473, disinheriting both wife and son. Catherine's death in 1476 robbed her seeing the release of her son. Adolf's liberty was short-lived; he died the next year.

Ten Thousand Martyrs and St. Acacius

The artist made a playful parallel between Lawrence's method of martyrdom and the way fish are cooked

Tree growing from Adam’s Grave