The Madhouse
1812-1819 Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
About this artwork
This oil on panel painting depicts a grim, subterranean interior filled with mentally ill individuals in various states of undress and agitation. It reflects the artist's interest in the psychological state of human beings during a period of Enlightenment-era social critique.
Did you know?
Goya created this haunting image during a time of significant personal and political instability, choosing to focus on the reality of those institutionalized rather than idealized scenes. It is considered a powerful critique of the brutal and inhumane conditions of contemporary asylums in 19th-century Spain.
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The Madhouse
Francisco Goya, 1812-1819
