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How did Francisco Goya influence Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism?
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Francisco Goya
Detail of Self-portrait, etching by Francisco Goya from the series Los caprichos, 1799.
Francisco Goya was a revolutionary artist whose work bridged the gap between the Old Masters and modern art. His profound influence on later European movements stemmed from his ability to capture contemporary social and political upheavals through a highly personal and innovative lens.123
- Romanticism and Realism: Goya’s dramatic compositions and his commitment to depicting the harsh realities of life—such as the horrors of war in The Disasters of War—deeply impressed 19th-century French artists who led the movements of Romanticism and Realism.24
- Impressionism: His use of an impressionistic style in works like The Third of May 1808 foreshadowed later techniques, directly inspiring artists such as Édouard Manet.4
- Expressionism and Surrealism: Goya’s later works, particularly his "black paintings" and the series Los disparates, utilized an expressionist language of nightmare visions, cynicism, and despair. These works were extensively studied and admired by Expressionists and Surrealists well into the 20th and 21st centuries.24