Courtyard With Lunatics

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   Always having been intrigued by the Napoleonic wars and there infamous place in history, it was not surprising to me that I latched onto a piece of artwork that portrayed this very event. During our work for the Humanities class I discovered the work of Francisco De Goya Y Lucientes, more specifically the piece titled The Third Day of May. The complexity of the painting dissolved into so many aspects of human behavior and being, it pulled me and I developed an interest in Francisco Goya's other works. One painting of his in particular stayed with me. Francisco Goya's painting titled The Courtyard With Lunatics immediately captured me, I'm not sure why initially, but it seemed to be powerfully submissive, yet definitive all in the same work. Not unlike his other paintings the color are dark and real, an implicit definition of his time.

    The painting named The Courtyard With Lunatics by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes, was created in the years of 1793 – 1794 in Spain, during what is considered the enlightenment period. In this painting we are witness to two men, two men whom are naked and fighting in a barricaded courtyard. During their fight amongst each other they are being beaten by a warden. In the background we see a a person whom is presumably Francisco Goya himself, arms and hands up raised as to be seeking acknowledgment.

    To me this whole painting became an “ Ah—Ha!” moment. When I chose it for my research it was based on what I felt was a deep connection between artist and work. Goya's paintings are so personal and real that it only felt natural for me to choose one of his works. It was not until my research that it the true meaning of the work completely seated.

http://www.artchive.com/artchive/G/goya/goya_dr_arrieta.jpg.html

    After becoming deaf at the hands of illness Francisco Goya was able to create this piece. His work in The Courtyard With Lunatics is a depiction of the societal scenario occurring in society at the end of the Napoleonic wars. We see a struggle taking place in between two people while they are being punished or driven by whip yielding individual. In the background are several people at unrest, while in the foreground we see a couple that is in what seems to be ignorance of the ensuing scenario behind them. In the very back of the painting is a person with palms upraised in a disposition that seems to above the rest of the individuals in the painting. Surrounding the people is the corner of two dark, tall walls, with an almost overpowering light coming in above them. The representation of church and state during the period is seen between the two sparring men. While the common populous is portrayed in the couple at the front, almost uneducated, or maybe self removed from what is truly occurring. In the background is the business end of society. We see the money end of the community in unrest over the battle between the two powerful brutes. The person with palms upraised has left me not completely satisfied. I am not convince it is the artist himself in a self proclaimed sense of revelation. Maybe, but also I think it maybe simply an incarnation of the overwhelming burden of truth, present but not acknowledged.

     

    When I first look at this painting I witness the color and tone that I have been accustomed to in the artists other works. An overwhelming sense of rawness is present in this painting though. Goya has not only called upon the awakening of his peers, but he has labeled the burdens of society and the result of their game. He has shown the fault in every aspect of human society, only one individual has been placed above the others, and that is the incarnation of truth.