This emblematic work by Francisco de Goya presents us with a composition of striking elegance. “The Clothed Maja” reveals a young woman reclining with nonchalant grace, in a posture that combines seduction and self-assurance. Her direct gaze engages the viewer, creating a subtle tension.
The masterful luminosity of the painting concentrates on her silhouette, dressed in a diaphanous white outfit with pearlescent reflections, accentuated by a pink sash that structures the composition. The contrast with the saffron yellow and dark background creates an intimate, almost theatrical atmosphere. Goya succeeds here in capturing the essence of Spanish femininity of his era, between tradition and modernity, displayed modesty and latent sensuality. The pictorial treatment, of remarkable finesse, reveals the full technical virtuosity of the Aragonese master.
Additional Information:
- “The Clothed Maja” by Goya, circa 1800-1807
- 94.7 x 188 cm
- Prado Museum, Madrid, Room 038
- https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-clothed-maja/a3121efc-6924-454c-8a9f-e4320f26d3d0
Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) stands among the most fascinating figures in Spanish art history. A court painter who became a lucid witness to the upheavals of his time, he embodies the transition between classicism and pictorial modernity.
This work, created between 1800 and 1807, corresponds to his period of artistic maturity, following his serious illness of 1793 that left him deaf. Likely commissioned by Manuel Godoy, favorite of King Charles IV, “The Clothed Maja” forms with “The Naked Maja” a revolutionary diptych for the period. These paintings, which brought him trouble with the Inquisition, testify to his growing creative freedom and already herald the boldness of his later “black period.” Through this work, Goya affirms his unique ability to transcend conventions while perfectly mastering the European pictorial tradition.
