Artwork

Little Prisoner

Little Prisoner, by Francisco Goya
Little Prisoner, by Francisco Goya

Little Prisoner is a print by the Impressionist artist Francisco Goya. It is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Little Prisoner, a print by Francisco de Goya, is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. Created in 1867, it depicts a somber, dramatic scene.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows two figures in a dark setting: one kneeling and bound with ropes, the other standing and holding a sword, conveying tension and power imbalance.

Technique & Style

Goya employed strong chiaroscuro, with sharp light-dark contrasts, to accentuate the figures against a predominantly black background, intensifying the emotional mood.

History & Provenance

Created in 1867, the work is now held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, though specific acquisition details are not provided here.

Context

While specific contextual details about the work's creation are not given, its themes of captivity and dominance reflect common explorations in Goya's oeuvre of human suffering and power dynamics.

Legacy

As part of Goya's body of work, Little Prisoner contributes to the artist's legacy of exploring profound human emotions through innovative use of light and shadow.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Francisco Goya

Artist

Francisco Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; Spanish: ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.