Around the turn of the 19th century, Spain introduced Francisco Goya, a great artist, painter, and engraver who had enormous influence on European painting of the first half of 19th century. Starting with paintings that were stylistically similar to rococo, Goya went through the romantic stage and then achieved genuine tragic heights in his art, affirming the realistic principles of the artistic world view.

Goya’s painting “Carnival” belongs to the genre series of folk amusement scenes. However, while in his early works the artist showed the joyful festivity of entertaining people in colorful costumes and masks, reminiscent of Longhi’s paintings, this painting has an anxious mood, felt both in the unruly crowd and the dark, almost sinister landscape. 

Goya aims to penetrate beyond the cloak of the visible to the spiritual roots of life. The delicacy of the linear composition and the motley rhythm of dance movements allow the artist to communicate the wild debauchery of instincts. The dramatic tension of the painting is increased by the sharp light and shadow contrasts, adding a demonic force to the painting’s atmosphere.