Costume of the Time of Goya n.d.

Mariano Fortuny Marsal made this etching, Costume of the Time of Goya, in the 19th century. The image presents a figure in what is described as period attire, referencing the era of the famous Spanish painter Francisco Goya. Fortuny, working in Spain, was part of a wider European phenomenon of artists looking back to previous eras, often idealizing them. This interest in historical costumes and settings can be understood in the context of emerging national identities and the rise of museums. Institutions played a key role in shaping public perceptions of history and culture. Artists like Fortuny engaged with this by creating images that evoked a sense of the past, with specific references such as Goya. Scholars examine these artworks, through primary sources, such as letters or exhibition reviews, to understand how artists and institutions constructed narratives about the past. In doing so, we can better understand the social and political functions of art in shaping historical consciousness.