Description
In "Flagellating procession", painted in 1793, Francisco Goya immerses us in a throbbing universe of religious fervor and emotional anguish, where the act of flagellation is presented as a ritual both powerful and disturbing. This masterpiece is a reflection of the socio-religious context of eighteenth-century Spain, a time when extreme devotion and penitential practices were deeply rooted in Spanish culture. Goya, known for his acute ability to observe and his innovative style, uses this work to offer implicit criticism of spiritual violence that can induce dogmatic beliefs.
The composition of the painting is both dynamic and tense. In the center of the work, a group of flagellants marches in a procession, their figures are grouped into a fragile balance, creating a sense of unity in their despair. The elongated bodies, wrapped in dark robes, seem to move in a choreography of pain and devotion. Goya relies on an earthly palette that emphasizes the seriousness of the act, contrasting the black of the clothes with the gloomy background, which amplifies the atmosphere of solemnity and suffering. The use of tones off not only provides a sense of austere reality, but also evokes the seriousness of the act of flagellation.
The faces of the flagellants, although partially obscured, radiates a slight shine that hints different emotions: despair, fervor and, possibly, a religious trance. This use of light and shadow is characteristic in the work of Goya, who finds in the chiaroscuro a powerful tool to remove the spectator from the trivial and immerse it in the collective psyche of his time. In addition, the arrangement of the characters suggests a forward movement, as if the group were on an inexorable trip to their own legitimate pain, symbolizing a dimension of sacrifice that is imbued with significant ambivalence.
An interesting aspect of "flagellating procession" is the echo of the tradition of masters of Baroque art, where the representation of suffering and devotion was common, but Goya here introduces a more personal and critical style that prefigures its famous approach to portray the night of reason and madness. His interest in human struggles and the tragic condition becomes evident in this work, which serves as much as a mirror of the practices of the time as a prelude to its future criticism of oppression, which will culminate in works as notable as "disasters of war. "
Through this painting, the viewer can perceive the emotional and physical wear that individuals suffer in the name of religion. Goya, although deep connoisseur of the artistic tradition that preceded him, begins to forge his own path, urging to contemplate beyond the mere image and enter the turbulent sea of human emotions. Thus, "Flagellating procession" is positioned not only as a mere representation of a specific ritual, but as a reflection on the nature of suffering and the human search for redemption, universal issues that transcend their time and continue to resonate today. Goya, through his sharp look, forces us to confront not only the act, but the motivations and consequences behind each flagellation on the road to faith.
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