Artwork

Prostitute Soliciting a Fat, Ugly Man, Folio 49 (recto)

Prostitute Soliciting a Fat, Ugly Man, Folio 49 (recto), by Francisco Goya, 1796
Prostitute Soliciting a Fat, Ugly Man, Folio 49 (recto), by Francisco Goya, 1796

Prostitute Soliciting a Fat, Ugly Man, Folio 49 (recto) is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This drawing is one sheet from a series of sketchbooks created by Francisco de Goya over three decades.

About this work

Overview

This drawing is one sheet from a series of sketchbooks created by Francisco de Goya over three decades. It is part of the 'Madrid Album', a collection of double-sided drawings dispersed after the artist's death.

Subject & Meaning

The recto side depicts a prostitute beckoning a rotund, well-dressed man from a window. The scene is a candid representation of a sordid encounter, exemplifying Goya's biting social commentary.

Technique & Style

Goya's private drawings reveal his inventive and observational skills. The work's raw, unpolished quality suggests it was not intended for public consumption, offering an unvarnished glimpse into Spanish life.

History & Provenance

The 'Madrid Album' was scattered among public and private collections following Goya's death, fragmenting the artist's private sketchbook output.

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.