Soldiers Frightened by a Phantom, from Disparates, published as plate 2 in Los Proverbios
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes
1816–1819
- Medium
- Etching and burnished aquatint in brown-black on ivory wove paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 21.9 × 31.9 cm (8 5/8 × 12 9/16 in.); Plate: 24.5 × 35.2 cm (9 11/16 × 13 7/8 in.); Sheet: 33.2 × 49.7 cm (13 1/8 × 19 5/8 in.)
- Genre
- etching
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Tags
printprints and drawingetchingpaper (fiber product)
About
This nightmarish image is a conundrum. Soldiers cowering before a towering specter can be interpreted as representing the fear of death or defeat, illustrating the vulnerability of fighters during a time of war. Upon a closer look, one can see a smirking face emerging from the phantom’s sleeve, indicating that the colossal apparition may actually be a hoax. With characteristic irony, Goya mocks meaningless superstitions and irrational fears.
