Volaverunt (They Have Flown)
1799
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1799
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Volaverunt (They Have Flown) is a 1799 ink by Francisco Goya, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a fancy woman with wings floating above a group of smaller, grumpy-looking people. The woman wears a big dress and holds a fan, while the people below reach up toward her with angry faces. The whole scene is drawn in black ink with some light shading, giving it a scratchy, sketchy feel. The title *Volaverunt* means "They Have Flown," which might hint the woman is escaping—or being carried away. The mix of floating figures and frustrated faces suggests something dramatic is happening, but it’s left open to guess. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how Goya made these sharp, layered lines.
