Who painted Que valor! (What Courage!)?

Que valor! (What Courage!) was painted by Francisco Goya.

Where can I see Que valor! (What Courage!)?

Que valor! (What Courage!) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Que valor! (What Courage!)?

Que valor! (What Courage!) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Que valor! (What Courage!)

Francisco Goya

Que valor! (What Courage!) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Francisco Goya. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1863, *Que valor!

About this work

Overview

Created in 1863, *Que valor!* is a black‑and‑white print that combines several intaglio methods. The image presents a woman in an elaborate costume seated upon a cannon, her gaze directed toward a fallen soldier whose hand reaches out. The composition is rendered with stark contrasts and a sketch‑like texture that conveys immediacy and tension.

Technique & Style

The work employs a layered approach: etching supplies the basic lines, aquatint adds tonal fields, drypoint contributes rich, velvety darks, while engraving sharpens details. Burnishing is used to smooth selected areas, creating subtle highlights. This mixture of processes results in a surface that oscillates between precise definition and loose, gestural marks, enhancing the dramatic atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The title, *Que valor!* ("What courage!"), invites interpretation of bravery, whether attributed to the soldier’s sacrifice or the woman’s audacious posture on a weapon of war. The juxtaposition of refined attire with martial objects underscores a paradox between elegance and conflict, suggesting commentary on the social upheavals of the period.

History & Provenance

The print was produced by the Spanish painter‑printmaker Francisco Goya, whose career spanned the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Recognized for addressing contemporary political and social tensions through his graphic work, Goya’s prints, including this piece, mark a transitional moment between the traditions of the Old Masters and the emerging modern sensibility.