Student Research - Art and Art History

Carmen Hermo

Performance, Intent, and Aspiration in the Self-Portraits of Francisco de Goya

Abstract: Confronting the myths that make up our idea of the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya as a Romantic "genius," my thesis seeks to explain and explore the ways in which Goya constructed his own self. His extensive body of self-portraits, ranging from private drawings to official court paintings, present Goya as a multi-faceted artist and individual. The intended functions of his self-portraits vary from private enrichment to public performance, while the visual presentation of the artist ranges from capable courtier to ill and incapacitated. In order to understand the goals of his visual performances, this study takes as its foci Goya's lifelong self-conception and self-construction, as manifested in his paintings, prints, and drawings.

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