In the context of Summer (Goya), explore the Goya and Romanticism of the Context of the work.
While the art style of Romanticism is one that scholars often find themselves debating over, many believe the style itself is tied to a certain period of time that reflects the culture of its era. However, others approach it as an overarching timeless depiction of an attitude or feeling that is carried throughout humanity. Dark Romanticism is a direct subgenre of the art style as a whole. Across the board discussion between artists and scholars alike has determined Dark Romanticism as a prevalent and important genre of visual arts. Francisco de Goya's work has contrasting opinions in regard to this specific genre of art. Many scholars deemed Goya's earlier work as light and idyllic. In his earlier work, there is a theme of happiness that instills a feeling of festivity and tranquility in its viewers. In 1792 Goya suffered a serious illness that many attribute to his shift in art work, however, some argue the opposite. There are hints of darker themes in his earlier works that go unnoticed if not looking at the bigger picture of his artistic expression. It is proven though that the drastic change in his art style was a direct result of Napoleon's invasion of Spain and the resulting Peninsular War of 1808. Goya produced the piece The Disasters of War, exhibiting his shift in expression as a result of the horrors he witnessed. This and many other works depict Goya’s switch into a Dark Romanticist way of art. This switch in themes can be evidently seen in the designs of his Four Seasons in the Fifth Series. Within the medium of tapestries, he inflicted the Dark Romanticism style and pushed critical and satirical messages. Many of Goya's works in cartoons and tapestries are negligible in scholarly discourse because they go against the status quo of the typical styles. When the exhibition Dark Romanticism: From Goya to Max Ernst was launched in 2012 there was a stark relationship between the exhibit's works and Goya's art. Goya's gradual inclusion of aspects of Dark Romanticism prove a direct engagement between the art style and the artist.
Dark Romanticism cartoon Romanticism Francisco de Goya The Disasters of War Peninsular War