Portrait thought to be Josepha Bayeu (or Leocadia Weiss) 1814

This portrait, thought to be Josepha Bayeu or Leocadia Weiss, was painted by Francisco de Goya in Spain. It’s oil paint on canvas, a traditional medium elevated to high art status through its use in portraiture. But Goya’s technique is not so traditional. The artist uses the fluidity of oil paint to achieve an expressive and modern feel. Look closely, and you’ll see the quick, almost gestural brushstrokes that define form. The thinness of the paint in areas lets the canvas show through, adding to the sense of immediacy. The intense black background brings the figure forward. Notice the textural contrast between the dark sleeves, adorned with metallic thread, and the diaphanous white shawl. The labor of creating such luxurious textiles certainly differed from Goya's own work, but both were skilled practices within the same economy. Goya was a master of his materials. By understanding his techniques, we can appreciate how he pushed the boundaries of painting, imbuing it with a new sense of dynamism and psychological depth.