The Eagle Hunter
1812-1820
Francisco de Goya captures a tense, almost comical moment where a man dangles precariously from a tree trunk by a rope, basket in hand, only to watch a massive eagle fly off with a bird in its talons. This drawing, created during the turbulent years of the Peninsular War, plays with the French proverb 'Bonheur d'aigle' (Eagle's luck) scribbled at the bottom, suggesting a twist of fate where the ambitious hunter loses his prize. The loose, expressive brown wash gives the scene a sense of frantic movement, perfectly illustrating Goya's cynical view of human folly.
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