Goya, a prominent name in the Spanish history of art, is one of the truly fascinating figures who produced some of the most biting satire ever created. Having started his first futile attempts at entry to the Royal Academy to become a court painter and then finally reaching a stage when he became deaf at the peak of his career that caused him to paint supramundane figures, Goya had a long and distinguished career in art history. Witnessing this exciting career is a dream of every art nerd, which can be fulfilled through this upcoming immersive exhibition, Universe Goya Between Light and Darkness at the Amatller Art Center in Barcelona. The event will start on February 27, 2025, before it embarks on an extensive international tour on the occasion of the upcoming commemorations dedicated to Francisco de Goya, which will be celebrating the 280th anniversary of his birth next year and the 200th anniversary of his death in 2028.
The exhibition includes eleven rooms of the Amatller Art Centre (Passeig de Gràcia, 41) that will combine innovative and spectacular digital art creations with a selection of the finest original work of Goya. Featuring 25 original engravings by Goya with the intaglio press which the artist used at Quinta del Sordo with a wide collection of objects from the period. Produced by Layers of Reality, this immersive experience covers more than 300 square meters, inviting visitors to connect with the knowledge and emotions that inspire the artist’s creations. Special attention is given to the poignant Black Paintings of the Quinta del Sordo. Visitors will have the opportunity to step into a virtual reality room, where they can journey through the artist’s most beloved paintings set against the serene backdrop of the Manzanares River.
The exhibit also includes a thoughtfully recreated private room of Godoy, allowing guests to share his perspective as he observed the two “majas.” Additionally, there are sensitive reinterpretations of the events of May 2 and 3, engravings by the artist, and rooms showcasing original objects, all designed to evoke a deeper understanding and appreciation for the artist’s work and the emotions behind it.
The private world of Goya is best seen and witnessed through his etchings. These had the triumphs of his last and mature period to grasp fully his meaning and his message. His first great series had purely professional skills which he had hitherto attained in his artistic career. He accorded to record his own anxieties, antipathies, and experiences in those etchings. The most significant fact to note is that his etchings, which distinguish his talent, progress through sudden leaps and changes in direction. His etchings actually revealed his attitude toward the world after it had matured within him. His etchings showed the power of expressions that were inspired by his own experiences and life coincided with the periods of solitude and isolation, suffering and despair. Hence, the etchings of the artist are the most significant of his entire career.
The event’s tickets can be purchased until April 30, 2025. Visitors are afforded the opportunity to select from a range of entry time slots, available between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. It is advisable to allocate a total duration of 70 to 90 minutes for the complete experience.
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