Goya’s Ghosts (2006)

SYNOPSYS

The film depicts the life and work of Spanish artist Francisco Goya, his relationship with the daughter of a wealthy merchant whom the Spanish Inquisition calls a heretic.

Epochal Contexts

18th century, Spain.

Subjects for Discussion

Activities

Write about this film
Given the epoch-making contexts and issues raised by the discussion, focus on the artist and his or her era when writing about the film. “Goya’s Ghosts” clearly show the controversy between the Spanish state and the church. These two institutions operate separately and form two independent states. Think about the fate of the artist at this time, whose side does Francisco Goya choose? What does it mean to be a free man when the monarchy is replaced by the ideas of the French Revolution and the monarchy returns again! Against the background of historical vicissitudes, how the face of a Spanish painter is represented. Analyze the artist’s personality in a romantic, epoch-making context. Try to consider Goya’s character in relation to other characters: the royal family, the merchant’s daughter, the clergy… The film’s protagonist, along with Francisco Goya, is Brother Lorenzo. When writing, try to focus on how the director describes the fate of two completely different people, the historical reality of the country and the change of political regime.

Individual activities
“Saturn Devouring His Son” is the most inspiring work of Francisco Goya. The artist worked on the canvas for 4 years, it’s height is 146 centimeters and his width is 83. The story of ancient mythology acquires special significance and intensity in the era of Romanticism. It is always important what political processes precede the creation of a particular work of art. Find information about the political and social changes that took place in Spain in 1819-1823. What challenges it faced in the first decades of the 19th century, being at one time the most powerful and wealthy state in Europe. Find more information about Goya’s later paintings “The Third of May 1808” and “Charles IV of Spain and His Family”. Try to analyze these paintings in an epoch-making context, against the background of historical vicissitudes. In addition, find out more about Francisco Goya’s painting techniques and various painting techniques (etching, engraving)

Group work/additional activities
Curriculum links: Fine Arts, History

In 1800, Goya created a large-scale painting “Charles IV of Spain and His Family”. During group work, analyze in detail the multi-figure composition and the relative ones with the “Las Meninas” of the Spanish artist Diego Velázquez. What is common and distinctive in them? Goya is said to have sought to gain the king’s favor and improve his social status by performing the painting. In the picture, like Velázquez, Goya depicts himself on the left, with an easel, and some critics believe that the artist’s irony towards the King and Queen of Spain is obvious. Goya, wanted the painting to look like an earlier family portrait of the Spanish royal family. During the group work, discuss the expressive methods of the work of the Spanish painter Francisco Goya. In addition, compare the era of Romanticism, the work of Diego Velázquez and the Spanish Baroque. Discuss which artists of the 20th century were influenced by the work of Francisco Goya.

Additional activities:
After discussion and group work, students can visualize the narrative material. Create a wall newspaper or electronic presentation where you present the material you have individually or in groups: The Life and Creativity of Francisco Goya. Select one specific episode of Goya’s life (decade) Present the presentation in the context of epoch: historical reality, form of government, the role of the church…

EXPECTED RESULTS

As a result of watching the film, discussion and writing a review in which it is necessary to use epoch-making contexts and the above recommendations, the student will be more aware of the life and work of Francisco Goya in Spain in the second half of the 18th century, as well as on Spanish Romanticism.

USA, Spain | 2006 | Fiction | 114min | 15
Director : Milos Forman
Screenplay : Milos Forman, Jean-Claude Carrière
Cinematography : Javier Aguirresarobe
Art Direction : José María Alarcón, Eduardo Hidalgo hijo
Starring : Javier Bardem, Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård

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SYNOPSYS

EXPECTED RESULTS

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