Maja met de donkere achtergrond 1824 - 1828

This etching, *Maja met de donkere achtergrond*, was created by Francisco Goya. The figure emerges from a densely worked dark ground. The composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the Maja's full figure. The dark background, created through dense, layered lines, is destabilized by the white dress, which serves as a formal rupture. Goya here challenges traditional portraiture by placing the figure in a dark, ambiguous setting, a space devoid of classical or aristocratic references. We see a semiotic disruption as the Maja gazes out, engaging directly with the viewer. The dress is rendered with sparse lines, and the etching technique emphasizes texture, challenging smooth, idealized forms. Note the directness of Goya’s lines, which convey both the texture of the fabric and the mood of the scene. This etching is a complex interplay of light and shadow, representation and abstraction. It compels us to consider the social and psychological dimensions of the subject, reflecting Goya’s broader concerns with the human condition and the disruption of established norms.