Soldiers Frightened by a Phantom, from Disparates, published as plate 2 in Los Proverbios

Art Institute of Chicago

Soldiers Frightened by a Phantom, from Disparates, published as plate 2 in Los Proverbios

Francisco José de Goya y LucientesLinkedCulture matchlcp-996a1e74ef53

Date
1816–19, published 1864
Medium
Etching and burnished aquatint in brown-black on ivory wove paper
Culture
Spain
Department
Prints and Drawings
Institution
Art Institute of Chicago
Object ID
44895

From the Art Institute of Chicago record

This nightmarish image is a conundrum. Soldiers cowering before a towering specter can be interpreted as representing the fear of death or defeat, illustrating the vulnerability of fighters during a time of war. Upon a closer look, one can see a smirking face emerging from the phantom’s sleeve, indicating that the colossal apparition may actually be a hoax. With characteristic irony, Goya mocks meaningless superstitions and irrational fears.

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Credit line
The Charles Deering Collection

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Object type
AAT300041273

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