Great Art: Hasta Su Abuelo by Francisco Goya
Source: Museo del Prado
A Spaniard who hailed from the northern city of Zaragoza, Francisco Goya was — in my opinion — one of the greatest painters and luminaries of his generation and probably one of the most talented and creative Spanish artists of all time.
In 1799, Goya published Los Caprichos (translating to the caprices in English), a series of etchings that depict the social ills of contemporary Spanish culture.
Hasta Su Abuelo, which translates as “and so was his grandfather” or “as far back as his grandfather,” satirizes hereditary nobility and challenges their place in society.
The piece depicts a donkey, dressed in what is presumably a fine set of clothes, proudly studying his family tree. In my opinion, this is an obvious caricature of an aristocrat, obsessed with studying their own genealogy and holding a conceited view of their own self-importance.
In the wake of the French Revolution and the English Civil War (and subsequent Glorious Revolution), the idea of Divine Kingship was on its last legs in Europe. Given this context, Hasta Su Abuelo points out the absurdity of awarding respect or power to a person because of their ancestors, just as it would be absurd to show respect to a donkey because he is the descendant of a long line of donkeys.
Goya’s piece points out that even farm animals have ancestors; an impressive family tree doesn’t excuse the failings of the ruling aristocratic class.
Originally published at https://artisthesolution.blogspot.com on January 2, 2020.
