Who painted The Garroted Man?

The Garroted Man was painted by Francisco Goya in 1780.

Where can I see The Garroted Man?

The Garroted Man is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Garroted Man?

The Garroted Man is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

The Garroted Man

Francisco Goya , 1780

The Garroted Man is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Francisco Goya. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1780 and later re‑printed in a second edition around 1830, *The Garroted Man* is an etching by the Spanish artist Francisco de Goya. Executed on smooth wove paper, the work presents a solitary figure bound to a post, illuminated by a single candle. The composition’s stark simplicity directs attention to the figure’s physical and emotional state.

Subject & Meaning

The image shows a man seated on a chair, his head thrown back, eyes closed and mouth open as if in a gasp of pain. He is restrained by ropes, his bare feet and modest clothing emphasizing vulnerability. The solitary candle on a nearby table casts a warm glow, heightening the sense of isolation and distress that the work conveys.

Technique & Style

Goya employed both etching and burin (engraving) to achieve the work’s precise linear quality. The smooth wove paper allows fine lines and subtle tonal variations, while the contrast between deep shadows and illuminated areas underscores the dramatic tension typical of his Romantic sensibility.

History & Provenance

The original plate was cut in the late eighteenth century, during a period when Goya was responding to Spain’s political upheavals. A second edition was printed roughly fifty years later, around 1830, indicating continued interest in the image after the artist’s death. The print has since entered public and private collections, reflecting its relevance to studies of Goya’s graphic oeuvre.