Three acrobats
ca. 1812-20
Goya captures a lively street performance here, with two acrobats contorting their bodies into handstands while a musician blasts a horn to gather a crowd. This sketch is part of his fascination with circus life and entertainers, subjects he returned to often to show the grit and energy of everyday people. The loose, energetic strokes make the movement feel almost alive, as if you can hear the music and see the tumbles happening right in front of you. It's a great example of how Goya moved away from stiff royal portraits to capture raw, human moments.
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