Rabbit hunter with a Retriever
ca. 1812-20
Francisco de Goya takes a break from his usual dark, dramatic themes to sketch a quiet, gritty moment in the woods. A weary hunter leans heavily on his staff, gazing down at his loyal retriever who has just snagged a rabbit. Created during the chaotic years of the Peninsular War (around 1812–1820), this loose, expressive drawing feels like a page torn from a visual diary of rural Spanish life. Unlike his grand historical paintings, these album sketches were intimate studies, capturing the raw reality of the countryside with quick, fluid strokes of ink.
- Technique
- Brush and ink wash
- Material
- Paper