Devota profesion. (Devout profession.) (1796-1797)
Technique: Giclée quality print
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"Devota profesión" (Devout Profession), created by Francisco de Goya between 1796 and 1797, is a compelling etching that offers a profound commentary on religious fervor and superstition. In this evocative artwork, Goya depicts a grotesque scene where the boundaries between devotion and madness blur. Two central figures, resembling monks or clerics, are immersed in reading and expounding from a large book, their faces distorted into expressions of maniacal enthusiasm. These exaggerated features serve to critique perhaps the blind zeal often associated with religious practices.In the foreground, a skeletal, almost demonic figure crouches over a wolf carcass, further amplifying the dark and satirical tone of the piece. The figure's gaunt, sharp features and intense gaze directly involve the viewer, drawing one into the unsettling scene. To the side, a smaller, equally grotesque face emerges from the carcass, adding a layer of horror and mystery.Through "Devota profesión", Goya masterfully uses his art to question the extremes of religious devotion and the fine line between piety and hysteria. As with many of his works, this piece remains poignantly relevant, encouraging modern viewers to reflect on the nature of belief and extremism.
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Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His paintings, drawings, and engravings reflected contemporary historical upheavals and influenced important 19th- and 20th-century painters. Goya is often referred to as the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns.