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What mysterious religious images are hidden in Goya's canvases? Can you find them?
Self-Portrait with Dr. Arrita by Spanish painter Francisco Goya is an oil painting from 1820 that is currently in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The painting has often been interpreted by scholars as having underlying religious themes and has been compared to Goya's "Dark Pictures" series, placing it within the context of his entire artistic career.
Background
Goya experienced a serious illness in 1792 that caused him to lose his hearing and cause numerous health problems. In 1819, he suffered another serious illness, and this work is a tribute to his doctor Eugenio García Arrita. An inscription in the painting explains Goya's original intention of creating the painting and expresses his deep gratitude to Yalita, because it was the doctor who helped him regain his life when he faced a dangerous disease. Although Goya expected to die from the disease, he lived for another eight years under Yalita's care.
Work analysis
In this painting, Goya is sitting on the bed, weak, involuntarily clenching the sheets, as if trying to grasp the spark of life. Arita's arms supported his back, prompting him to drink the potion. The blurred shadows in the background, suspected to represent the face of death, add to the drama of the painting. The work shows the strong contrast between life and death through the bright contrast between Goya and Arita in the foreground and the dark tones in the background.
The contrast of this painting makes us wonder: How profound is the relationship between doctors and patients when facing life and death?
Interpretation of religious themes
Many scholars believe that the painting displays an emotion connected to religion, although the context is secular. The thanksgiving to Arita in the painting seems to make him a saint of redemption. Therefore, this painting reveals Christian imagery to some extent. The act of raising the cup from Arita echoes the blood of Christ in the Christian Eucharist ritual, expressing a kind of boundary between life and death. In addition, there are also vague images of Jesus Christ's visit in the painting, which reflects Goya's exploration of faith and medicine.
Background portrait and Goya's "Dark Painting"
The shadowy figures in the background also elicit different interpretations. Some scholars believe these figures may represent aid to Goya, or priests in Christian death rites. Then, some scholars connected the characters in the background with Goya's later "Dark Paintings" and regarded them as phantoms of Goya's illness. This interpretation allows us to see Goya's inner struggle, his thoughts and emotions that emerged during difficult times.
The meaning of this painting
"Self-Portrait with Dr. Arrita" not only marks the transition of Spanish portraiture to modernity, but also shows the significant changes in Goya's artistic style after encountering the test of life and death. While earlier paintings made him appear vivid, here it is a sense of unresolved vulnerability and fear. However, it also symbolizes the prospect of hope and healing. It makes us reflect on what kind of way out there is between life and death.
Can the emotions conveyed by Goya in this work resonate with us today?
