Still Life With Golden Bream 

Francisco Goya painted Still Life with Golden Bream using oil on canvas. In the early 19th century, Spain was undergoing enormous upheaval, and Goya was moving away from his role as court painter. He was exploring new themes in his art, often with a dark undercurrent. This still life seems simple, but it has a visceral quality, common to Goya's work. It invites us to consider the politics of imagery by using visual codes that question the social structures of its time. The still life genre was popular at the time, but rather than presenting an image of wealth or abundance, Goya gives us death. To understand Goya's world better, you can research Spanish history, especially the Peninsular War. You might also look at writings about the Spanish court and the history of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Ultimately, this seemingly simple painting can tell us a great deal about the social conditions that shaped artistic production in Goya's Spain.