Artwork
The Proverbs: A Way of Flying
The Proverbs: A Way of Flying is a print by the Impressionist artist Francisco de Goya. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1928.102.13
- Credit line
- Gift of Grover Higgins
About this work
Overview
The Proverbs: A Way of Flying is a print by Francisco de Goya, dated to 1864, currently housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a nocturnal scene with bat-like creatures and a central half-human, half-bat figure gesturing upwards while grasping a small object. The composition conveys a sense of turmoil among the unnatural, twisted forms.
Technique & Style
Goya utilized a stark black-and-white palette, emphasizing sharp contrasts to create dramatic, high-contrast shapes against a dark background, characteristic of chiaroscuro effects.
History & Provenance
Created in 1864, the work is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. Note: The provided date (1864) is likely an error, as Goya died in 1828; the actual date is not specified here due to the constraint of working with the given facts.
Context
The piece reflects Goya's exploration of the bizarre and the nightmarish, common in his later works, though the specific context or inspiration for this print is not detailed in the provided information.
Legacy
The legacy of 'The Proverbs: A Way of Flying' is not explicitly outlined in the provided facts, suggesting its impact or influence on subsequent art movements or artists is either unknown or not specified here.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.
