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.

Can I buy a print of Que valor! (What Courage!)?

Museum-quality prints of Que valor! (What Courage!) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

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. "Que valor!

About this work

Overview

"Que valor!" (What Courage!) is a multi‑technique print created by Francisco Goya, combining etching, aquatint, dry‑point, engraving and burnishing on wove paper. The image presents a stark, monochrome landscape dominated by a lone female figure positioned behind a cannon, her back turned toward the viewer, while the ground is littered with indistinct bodies.

Subject & Meaning

The composition conveys a moment of armed conflict, emphasizing the woman's resolve amid the surrounding devastation. Her stance, aligned with the artillery piece, suggests readiness to confront danger, while the scattered corpses underscore the brutal cost of war. Goya invites reflection on personal bravery in the face of collective tragedy.

Technique & Style

Goya employs a layered printmaking process: fine lines from engraving define forms, aquatint creates tonal washes, and dry‑point adds rich, velvety shadows. Burnishing highlights selective areas, enhancing contrast within the grayscale palette. The result is a somber, atmospheric scene where texture and tonal variation intensify the emotional weight of the subject.

Context

Produced during Goya’s later period, the work aligns with his broader engagement with the horrors of conflict, echoing themes explored in his series on war and its aftermath. By focusing on a solitary, unnamed woman, the print universalizes the experience of courage, situating individual fortitude within the larger narrative of societal upheaval.