Cannibals
1800-1808 Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon
About this artwork
This small oil sketch depicts a group of nude figures engaged in acts of cannibalism within a rocky, cave-like environment. It is part of a series of works by Goya that explore dark, visceral themes, often attributed to the early 19th century.
Did you know?
While Francisco Goya is celebrated for his royal portraits, this work belongs to his darker, more private interests in the macabre and human cruelty. It is believed that Goya painted these unsettling scenes during a period of personal introspection, reflecting the brutal realities of war and the darker side of human nature that he witnessed in Spain during the Napoleonic era.
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Cannibals
Francisco Goya, 1800-1808
