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Copyright by Laura Mareike Sager 2006 - The University of Texas at ...

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Inquisition trial, the works are discussed and commented on various times <strong>by</strong><br />

Goya’s friends. 69 Goya’s aide Agustin Esteve’s particularly detailed reflection<br />

follows the descriptions immedi<strong>at</strong>ely. His interpretive ekphrasis <strong>of</strong> the works<br />

focus both on their formal composition and on larger implic<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> the works’<br />

significance, as well as their implicit political st<strong>at</strong>ements:<br />

Was auf diesen Bildern zu sehen war, das waren umständliche<br />

Begebenheiten mit vielen Menschen, aber da war nichts Überflüssiges<br />

mehr. Es war eine sparsame Fülle. [...] [A]lle fünf Bilder, so mannigfach<br />

ihr Inhalt schien, gehörten zusammen. [...] [D]as war eines, das war<br />

Spanien. Die ganze Wildheit war darin, das Grausen, das Dumpfe,<br />

Dunkle, das sogar in der spanischen Freude ist. Trotzdem [...] lag darüber<br />

ein Leichtes, Beschwingtes: der Schrecken der Vorgänge war aufgehoben<br />

durch die zarte Helligkeit des Himmels, das schwebende, abgestufte Licht.<br />

[...].<br />

Lehnte diese Malerei sich<br />

Gegen die Regierung auf? Empörte<br />

Sie sich gegen Thron und Altar?<br />

Nichts dergleichen war mit Augen<br />

Sichtbar, noch mit Worten sagbar.<br />

Trotzdem störten diese kleinen<br />

Bildern einen auf, viel mehr als<br />

Worte, die empörerischsten.<br />

[...] (Goya 190-91). 70<br />

69 In the novel, these works pred<strong>at</strong>e the Caprichos, while actually they were made several years<br />

l<strong>at</strong>er. <strong>The</strong>y are: Bullfight Scene (c. 1812-19), <strong>The</strong> Madhouse (c. 1812-19), Procession <strong>of</strong><br />

Flagellants (c. 1812-19), Burial <strong>of</strong> the Sardine (1808-19), and Inquisition Scene (c.1812-19).<br />

70 “<strong>The</strong> subjects <strong>of</strong> these pictures were complex events involving many people, yet nothing was<br />

superfluous. It was a carefully measured abundance. […] [A]ll five pictures, diverse though their<br />

contents were, […] were a unity, were Spain. <strong>The</strong> whole ferocity was there, the horror; and the<br />

dullness and darkness th<strong>at</strong> are present even in Spanish happiness. And yet […] a lightness lay over<br />

it all, something rhythmic; the frightening impact <strong>of</strong> the action was mitig<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>by</strong> the tender clarity<br />

<strong>of</strong> the sky, the flo<strong>at</strong>ing, delic<strong>at</strong>ely shaded light. […] Were these pictures, then, seditions? / Were<br />

they hostile to the ruling / Powers? Did they rise against the / Throne and Altar? Not so far as /<br />

Eye could see or lips express in / Words. And yet these little pictures / Were disturbing. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

disturbed one / More than words howe’er disloyal. […]” (This Is 171)<br />

55

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