In the news of significant exhibitions around the world, the strongest impressions on the attestors are from the most dazzling portrayals of womanhood. Proceeding to this sensibility and celebration of Spanish womanhood, on the crispy morning of June 3, the provocative painting La Cita goes on display at the Ethnographic Museum of Castilla y León in Zamora.
Jose Luis Calvo, Director of the Ethnographic Museum of Zamora; Mar Sancho, Vice-Minister of Cultural Action of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Government of Castilla y León; Miguel Falomir, Director of the National Prado Museum; Beatriz Herranz Casas, Central Territory Director of Telefónica Spain; and Javier Solana, President of the Royal Board of Trustees of the Prado Museum, presented this artwork, and held the responsibility to host it until June 23, 2024, as a part of the ‘El arte que conecta’ program.
The ‘El arte que conecta’ program is a collaborative effort between Museo Nacional del Prado and Telefonica to aim at the promotion of the exchange of cultural values and strengthen the connection between people. It is to further bring different artworks to the 18 Spanish localities, celebrating the centennial anniversary of Telefónica.
With this, Museo Etnográfico de Zamora proves its better connections with Prado and its excellent ability to hold such significant artworks, further making a local approach to unite the communities with art and culture.
The 100 x 151 cm oil on canvas painting was composed by Francisco Goya in 1780. He offers an abrupt thematic counterpoint in this artwork. Depicting a woman dressed in gold and pink hues, subdued in the grey surrounding atmosphere, she seems to lean on the mound of stones, pondering on her thoughts. In her background, several cloaked majos gaze at her from the back, yet she remains unaware of their gaze. Her body posture, with chin in hand, shows the classic imagery of melancholy.
In addition to this exhibition, a series of workshops and important conferences are being held to know the entire historical, social, and ideological context of ‘La Cita’. Alejandro Vergara, the Head of Conservation of Flamenco Painting and Northern Schools at Museo Nacional del Prado, will hold the first conference, titled ‘The eyes of Goya’ on June 7, at 8:00 p.m. He will address the paradoxical coexistence of European tradition and Goya’s art. On June 13 at 8:00 p.m., Fernando Bronzaco, The Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid, will address ‘Illustrated Monsters. Art, technique and humanism.’ Lastly, Celia Guilarte, Faculty of Museum Conservators, scheduled for June 14, 8:00 p.m., will close the conference entitled ‘The Prado Museum. History of an institution to be made.’
Clara Fraile ends this cycle of knowing La Cita by leading three workshops on June 9, 15, and 16. The first titled ‘The Mysterious Case of Goya’s ‘The Cita” will commence from 11:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.; the second titled ‘Goya and the Monsters’ on June 15, from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., and the third, on June 16, from 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., a family session of the previous one.
Resources.
- Diario De Castilla Y León.
- Featured Image: La Cita by Francisco Goya; Francisco Goya, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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