Who painted The Proverbs: General Folly?

The Proverbs: General Folly was painted by Francisco de Goya.

Where can I see The Proverbs: General Folly?

The Proverbs: General Folly is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Proverbs: General Folly?

The Proverbs: General Folly is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Proverbs: General Folly

Francisco de Goya

The Proverbs: General Folly is a print by the Impressionist artist Francisco de Goya. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1928.102.9
Credit line: Gift of Grover Higgins

About this work

Overview

Francisco de Goya’s print titled The Proverbs: General Folly dates from 1864 and is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The composition gathers several figures in assorted postures, some upright, others reclined, against a stark, dark backdrop that isolates the group.

Technique & Style

Goya employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing light to model the bodies and generate a palpable sense of volume. The stark contrast between illuminated forms and the surrounding gloom intensifies the visual tension, a hallmark of his graphic work.

Subject & Meaning

The scene presents a crowd engaged in a seemingly chaotic tableau, suggesting the theme of collective foolishness implied by the title. The varied stances of the figures convey a disorderly assembly, reinforcing the moral commentary on human folly.

History & Provenance

Since its creation, the print has remained in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s European prints collection. Its acquisition history beyond the museum’s ownership is not documented in the available records.