Attributed to Francisco de Goya

Colossus

After 1808, oil on canvas, 116 x 105 cm.

Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, marked as public domain.

A giant looms over a valley in which crowds of terrified people and cattle scatter in different directions. The giant holds up clenched fists like a boxer, but his back is turned and we don’t know who or why he is fighting. His depiction is similar to that of Goya’s etching of the Seated Giant and just as mysterious, although more aggressive. Giants in Western art often represented characters from Greek and Roman myths who started fights for no good reason. The painting’s dark colours and threatening atmosphere recall the strange “Black Paintings” of the Quinta del Sordo. A description from time describes it as "A prophetic allegory of the misfortunes that took place during the War of Independence.” What do you think?