Summer, or The Harvest 1786

Francisco de Goya painted *Summer, or The Harvest* on canvas, intending it as a tapestry cartoon for the royal palace in Spain. Here, Goya created a scene of rural life, yet it’s far from a straightforward depiction of peasantry. Commissioned for the king’s dining room, we might ask, what vision of Spanish society is being presented? Look closely, and you’ll notice a split between the idle rich and the laboring poor. The painting invites reflection on social hierarchy, with the castle looming in the background, a subtle reminder of aristocratic power overlooking the common workers. To understand this work better, we can research Spanish history, class structures, and the role of the monarchy. We can investigate the institutional framework of royal commissions and the tapestry industry. The meaning of this work is not just in its visual elements but is rooted in its social and institutional context.