The Swing, 1796–97
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828)
Brush and gray wash on laid Netherlandish paper; 9 5/16 x 5 3/4 in. (23.7 x 14.61 cm)
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1935 (35.103.2)
Technical Glossary
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Spanish, 1746–1828)
Brush and gray wash on laid Netherlandish paper; 9 5/16 x 5 3/4 in. (23.7 x 14.61 cm)
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1935 (35.103.2)
A subject favored by artists of the Rococo school (notably Fragonard), the playful back and forth of a young woman in a swing suggested the suspenseful drama of amorous courtship. Goya pictured such a swing in a tapestry design for the palace of the crown prince and princess and in a decorative painting for the country house of the duke and duchess of Osuna. His ink-and-wash drawing emphasizes the fickle nature of the smiling girl, who seems to have some other suitor on her mind.
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