¡Qué sacrificio! (What a sacrifice!) by Francisco Goya (Interpretation and Analysis)

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¡Qué sacrificio!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Francisco Goya’s print series Los Caprichos is widely considered to be one the most influential artistic projects of its time. Although the Caprichos were not widely known at the time of their publication, they had a resounding impact on art over the next hundred years. One of the major themes of the series is the relationship between men and women.

¡Qué sacrificio! is an excellent example of this theme. The piece depicts a young woman in a white dress surrounded by a crowd of leering men. One man, whom Goya portrays as an oafish lout, leans toward her, examining her in a suggestive way. The woman, whom Goya portrays as the victim of the situation, looks away from the men, pain and distress evident on her face. The piece implies that the man is courting her in some way, with the title suggesting that the woman will be forced to accept his advances.

The print offers a criticism of the social structures that forced young women to bind themselves to cruel or uncaring men who happened to be wealthy and powerful. The titular sacrifice refers to the woman herself, implying the woman in the piece is “too good” for the men that surround her, who seemingly have done nothing to deserve her attention. On a wider scale, the piece criticizes arranged, society marriages that take place without considering the suitability or future happiness of either partner.

Goya was deeply interested in exploring the relationships between men and women. He took a rather objective view of these relationships, portraying both men and women as both victims and predators in various situations. ¡Qué sacrificio! and other pieces like it served as a form of social and cultural criticism, something that Goya was particularly passionate about as a thinker of the Enlightenment. ¡Qué sacrificio! reflects his Enlightenment ideas and serves as a call for social reform.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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