The Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Iberoamerican University Foundation (Funiber) opened the art exhibition “Goya – Dalí: Del Capricho al Disparate” at the Museum of Dominican Man in Plaza de la Cultura. The global traveling exhibition is open free of charge to the general public until 15 June 2023.
The Spain Culture website explains that Francisco de Goya’s Caprichos were created between 1793 and 1798, engraved with etching, and constitute the first series of Spanish caricature prints. Salvador Dalí was inspired by this series, and with his unparalleled creativity and sharp eye, turned it into 80 works with a profound surrealist imprint. He tackled this task between 1973 and 1977 and since then his series Disparates has become part of the canon of surrealist painting worldwide.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations adds that the 80 engravings of the Spanish master Francisco de Goya are a social satire of the Spain of the 18th century, reflecting the complex genius of Goya. While the great Salvador Dalí added his surrealist drawings to the works of Goya between 1973 and 1977, he respected the color and size. He changed some titles, creating his nonsense artworks and integrating a universe in perfect harmony with Goya’s own whims.
Goya had originally presented the series of engravings in 1799, dedicating the works to condemn human vices and imperfections of existing rules. The series includes such pieces as “The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters”, “Love and Death”, “Good advice”, “Tantalus”, as well as well-known “Francisco Goya y Lucientes, Painter”.
Almost two hundred years later, Salvador Dali managed to add new elements to more than 40 Goya’s etchings, and now visitors can see their works side by side.
Art critics explain that the cultural dialogue between the works of both artists is complex and somewhat dark, as they are filled with powerful metaphors, critics of social life and pitiless truth of human nature.
Each pair of works is provided with descriptions, original commentaries of Goya and translation, showing particularity of the curators’ work.
Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Álvarez said at the opening of the art show that both artists, each with unique styles, dared to defy the conventions of their time, leaving us a legacy that still endures. “May these works, which continue to captivate and inspire our generations, serve as an eternal reminder of the importance of creativity and expression,” he said.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Funiber
Costa Rica News
Spain Culture
31 May 2023