Figure 1: Francisco Goya (1814). The Executions of May 3, 1808 (Goya, 1814).
The Executions of May 3, 1808
Introduction
Artwork analysis involves a thorough scrutiny on how the Elements of Art and Principles of Composition have been applied in a given piece of art. The purpose of the analysis is to determine whether the artwork meets the threshold both in composition principles and in the use of elements of art. Francisco Goya’s The Executions of May 3, 1808 is an impressive artwork whose style and message are as interesting as its history.
Historical Information of the Artist and the Piece of Artwork
The Spanish painter Francisco Goya was born on 30th March 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain. Goya’s art genre was Romanticism, and he was an influential artist of his time until his death on April 16, 1828. Goya painted The Executions of May 3, 1808, in 1814. In the painting, the artist alludes a historical occurrence that took place on May 3, 1808. On a particular day, as depicted in the painting, there was an execution of civilians which was carried out by French soldiers before dawn. The execution was a retaliation attack following a guerrilla attack that took place on the previous day. Goya meant to capture the effect of the war atrocities on both the Spanish and French side. The artwork was intended to vocalize the need to have peace (Onoja, 2016). Goya advised the provincial …show more content…
Goya painted the Spanish countrymen in the softer texture compared to the French soldiers. Besides, the looser brushstrokes were used to paint the countrymen compared to the shinier look on the soldiers. This artwork was painted during the Romanticism art movement (Connell, 2004). One key tenet of the art movement was the promotion of justice for all. Also, the movement believed in an emotional and personal response to
The Executions of May 3, 1808
Introduction
Artwork analysis involves a thorough scrutiny on how the Elements of Art and Principles of Composition have been applied in a given piece of art. The purpose of the analysis is to determine whether the artwork meets the threshold both in composition principles and in the use of elements of art. Francisco Goya’s The Executions of May 3, 1808 is an impressive artwork whose style and message are as interesting as its history.
Historical Information of the Artist and the Piece of Artwork
The Spanish painter Francisco Goya was born on 30th March 1746 in Fuendetodos, Spain. Goya’s art genre was Romanticism, and he was an influential artist of his time until his death on April 16, 1828. Goya painted The Executions of May 3, 1808, in 1814. In the painting, the artist alludes a historical occurrence that took place on May 3, 1808. On a particular day, as depicted in the painting, there was an execution of civilians which was carried out by French soldiers before dawn. The execution was a retaliation attack following a guerrilla attack that took place on the previous day. Goya meant to capture the effect of the war atrocities on both the Spanish and French side. The artwork was intended to vocalize the need to have peace (Onoja, 2016). Goya advised the provincial …show more content…
Goya painted the Spanish countrymen in the softer texture compared to the French soldiers. Besides, the looser brushstrokes were used to paint the countrymen compared to the shinier look on the soldiers. This artwork was painted during the Romanticism art movement (Connell, 2004). One key tenet of the art movement was the promotion of justice for all. Also, the movement believed in an emotional and personal response to