Barbarossa (Pernia, Fool of Philip IV) 18th-19th century

Curator: This is Francisco Goya's "Barbarossa (Pernia, Fool of Philip IV)," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Look at that elaborate costume. Editor: He definitely stands out. There’s a theatrical, almost melancholic quality to the figure, despite the bright garb. Who was he? Curator: Pernia was a court jester, a "fool." These figures often held a unique place, permitted to speak truths others couldn't. Goya seems to be drawing on the symbolic language of the court. Editor: Fascinating how Goya captures the ambivalence of that role. The fool as a truth-teller… it reminds me of the ongoing power dynamics and the ways in which marginalized figures often serve as the only voice of dissent. Curator: Exactly. The image, though seemingly simple, layers social commentary through historical costume and pose. It holds echoes of both power and precariousness. Editor: It makes you wonder about the stories behind the symbols. I'm left reflecting on the enduring resonance of those themes of power, truth, and social commentary.