Course Description

 Instructor: Isidra Mencos

The Spanish painter Francisco de Goya y Lucientes lived in a period of intense political upheaval, civil wars and a discredited monarchy. His early work showed the influence of the Enlightenment and had a critical point of view that aimed to not only please but also educate his viewers. As time went by, the ravages of illness, war, and political repression showed in his paintings through impactful and enigmatic imagery that upended the traditional role of an artist.

For Goya, art was not a way to interpret the world according to an immutable order dictated by God, but an urgent reflection on the lack of meaning in modern society.

From the royal tapestries and portraits, to the incisive Caprichos, the impactful Disasters of the War and the mysterious Black Paintings, we will examine Goya's major works and his stunning evolution.

Bio: Isidra Mencos is the author of Promenade of Desire—A Barcelona Memoir. She holds a PhD in Spanish and Latin American Contemporary Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught Spanish language, literature, culture, and creative writing. Her essays and articles have been published in Diálogo, WIRED, Chicago Quarterly Review, Front Porch Journal, The Penmen Review, Stirring Literary Journal, and elsewhere. Her essay, “My Books and I,” was listed as Notable in The Best American Essays 2019. Originally from Spain, Isidra lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.