The Forge (Goya) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Forge |
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| Artist | Francisco Goya |
| Year | c. 1817 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 181.6 cm × 125 cm (71+1⁄2 in × 49+1⁄4 in) |
| Location | Frick Collection, New York City |
The Forge (which means La fragua in Spanish) is a famous painting from around 1817. It was created by the Spanish artist Francisco Goya (1746–1828). Today, you can see this large oil on canvas painting at the Frick Collection in New York City. It shows three blacksmiths working hard at an anvil. An art expert named Fred Licht said it's a great example of Goya's later painting style.
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What the Painting Shows
This painting doesn't tell a long story. Instead, it's like a quick photo of one moment in time. The setting is not very clear, making you focus on the people. The painting uses many shades of gray, blue, and black. Bright red from the hot metal stands out against these darker colors. The way the men are positioned makes the picture feel balanced.
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The Workers and Their Meaning
The Forge really shows off the strong muscles of the men. They look like heroes from old stories, with thick, powerful arms and broad backs. But their faces show they are tough, everyday people. Goya probably did this so ordinary people could relate to them.
These figures likely represent the working class people of Spain in the 1800s. They are shown shaping the future of their country. This is like a saying from that time: "on the anvil of history." It means they were actively building what was to come. The painting might also remind us of how people resisted the French army led by Napoleon. Goya showed this resistance in other paintings too, like The Knifegrinder from 1808. It could also be about how ordinary people helped create the country's new laws.
Even though Goya was a painter for the royal family, he cared deeply about common people. He often painted their daily lives. He showed the importance of hard work or the sadness of war.
Some people think the old man in the painting might connect to an old story. This story is about the god Vulcan and his forge. If so, The Forge might be linked to two other Goya paintings. These are The Young Ones and Time. They are the same size and explore similar ideas.
Comparing it to Other Art
This painting seems connected to Goya's drawing called Three Men Digging. That drawing might have been an early idea for the painting. We are not sure exactly when both were made. But experts think they were done between 1815 and 1820. This is because they look similar in style to Goya's Black Paintings.
There are some differences between the drawing and the painting. In The Forge, you feel like you are looking up at the men. This makes them seem bigger and more powerful. Also, in the painting, you can see the faces of two of the men. In the drawing, the men are digging a hole with farm tools. But in the painting, they are focused on the anvil. Both the drawing and the painting don't show a clear story. They just show three men close together, which might not be how they would work in real life.
Where the Painting Has Been
Many of Goya's paintings of everyday Spanish people were not ordered by anyone. They were also not shown or sold while he was alive. After Goya passed away, his son owned The Forge. Later, King Louis-Philippe of France bought it. He put it in his Spanish art gallery at the Louvre museum. It was shown there from 1838 to 1851.
Then, the painting was sent to England. In 1853, it was sold at an auction called Christie's in London. Eventually, the Frick Collection bought it.
See also
In Spanish: La fragua (pintura) para niños
- List of works by Francisco Goya
