Plucked Turkey
- Original dimensions
- 54.6 x 40.2 cm
- Museum
- Neue Pinakothek
- Year
- 1782
Scene depicted
In this painting, Goya celebrates the simplicity of a plucked turkey, captured in a moment of precarious beauty. The work reveals the ability of art to evoke the reality of everyday life through the prism of a meticulous composition . The subject, much more than a mere bird, becomes the symbol of Spanish rural life, punctuating the dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Historical context
Created in 1782, during a time marked by late classicism and the beginning of romanticism , this painting emblematic of Goya transports us to Madrid, where the artist forged his unique style amidst the social turmoil of his time. The painting, now housed in the Neue Pinakothek museum, stretches over a size of 54.6 x 40.2 cm, capturing the essence of a period where introspection and observation of daily life took shape.
Place in the artist's career
Positioned at the crossroads of a dazzling career, Plucked Turkey represents the pinnacle of an emerging Goya. Just before this painting, works like The Clothed Maja and The Naked Maja unveil an exploration of themes of femininity and sensuality, while his gaze towards rusticity here symbolizes a turning point towards more direct and social subjects.
Anecdote
“Every brushstroke is a voice that whispers the truth of the living.” Goya, inspired by the simplicity of rural life, illustrates here a humble scene, perhaps observed during a walk in the countryside. The work conveys a deep gratitude for nature, resonating as an echo of his own reflections on the human condition and the authenticity of the senses.