Goya: Order & Disorder

As I write this you have less than 24 hours to see this show in person at the MFA in Boston. If you can get there by any means- DO NOT MISS IT! I made the trek from NYC Thursday and it was one of the Top 5 Shows I've ever seen (Leonardo In London, 2011, Picasso Retrospective, Moma 1980, McQueen Savage Beauty, Met 2011, Rembrandt at the Art Institute, Chi, 2004, or the Dali Centennial Retrospective in Philly are the others). If you can't make it, this book, the catalog for the show will have to make due. Nothing can take the place of the actual experience, but this book is also a very good overview of Goya's achievement. Packed with treasures from all over the world (the Prado, Met, Hispanic Society among many other lenders), and showcasing the MFA's own paintings and world class collection of Goya's prints, I think this would stand in as your go to overview of the master's work, well, until Taschen gets around to a Complete Works, XL edition. But, given the man created 700 paintings, 900 drawings, 300 prints, not to mention murals, etc.- all AFTER the age of 40(!), it might be an XXL edition. There are also unsatisfactory editions of the essential prints, Los Caprichos, currently available in print (wiki seems to have done a better job than Dover for now). So, as a souvenir of my visit, a catalog of this unforgettable show (with very good text and commentary by the way by the superb curators), a very good overview of Goya's work, and a very nice selection of his prints in quality reproductions, you can't go wrong with this book...especially at the discounted price here. Even if Taschen XL's Goya, this book will still see regular reference in my home.

The introductory essay in this excellent exhibition catalog observes that "Fransisco Goya (1746-1828) continually challenged himself and his contemporaries. Living in a time of revolution and radical social and political transformations, Goya witnessed drastic shifts from relative peace and prosperity to wartime chaos, famine, crime and retribution. Among the 1800 works he left for posterity many are not easy to look at, or even to understand. Little of the human condition escaped his penetrating gaze and imaginative interpretation, even the most extreme behaviours and emotional states".This volume should be an essential purchase for enthusiasts of this great artist. The numerous essays on various aspects of Goya's life and creative output are informative and clearly written. There are additionally many well sized and excellently reproduced illustrations of his artworks - the Boston exhibition featured 170 paintings , drawings, prints, as well as a few tapestries and works on ivory. It is to be noted that many of the masterpieces located in the Prado are not featured but the good news is that a significant number of exhibits would unfamiliar to the average art lover.The chapters examine diferent aspects of Goya's creations - their titles are "Goya Looks at Himself, Life Studues, Play and Prey, Portraits, Balancing Acts, Other Worlds, Other States, Capturing History and Solo Goya".This volume joins the excellent books on this artist by Robert Hughes, Fred Licht as well as "Goya and the Spirit of Enlightenment" (It is to be noted that the Guardian art critic described the book as "backbreaking" while another reviewer observed it to be too heavy to hold unsupported. Fear not, for an exhibition catalog / art book the dimensions and weight seem pretty average to me!

Excellent account of Goya and his work. As a fan of Spanish history, this book speaks volumes about the people and the values and ideals of the time. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes cynical, Goya’s sketches renew my forgotten love of art.

Nice thing to have laying around to show people that you have a modicum of culture.

Great pice with very fast delivery. Would buy from again.

Extraordinary quality print, really amazing, with well-written texts of which I have learned a lot. A book made with a lot of love and care.

Great price and beautiful book, though the print is on the small side - I traveled to Boston specifically to see the Goya exhibition at the Fine Arts Museum but didn't want to lug home this big book on the train and was pleasantly surprised that it was less expensive through Amazon than the museum ($50 for non-members and $45 for members, as I recall).

It had just arrived after a week of purchasing it and I am very pleased. The quality of the images and the book itself are all absolutely stunning. I am very happy with this item and would highly recommend to anyone who's interested in Goya and his art. Five Stars.

Really nice with good illustrations.

4/5

Ce livre est le catalogue de la récente exposition qui s'est tenue à Boston.C'est un livre complet sur Goya, situant bien l'artiste et son oeuvre dans le contexte historique et politique, et offrant une vaste palette de ses oeuvres, dont ses dessins les plus noirs. Ce sont d'ailleurs ces 255 superbes reproductions (qui toutes ne sont pas pleine page) qui font la valeur de ce livre, qui peut paraître cher mais dont le prix est justifié par la qualité d'impression (très beau papier mat).Un livre à posséder dans sa bibliothèque.5 étoiles méritées.

Worth it for the breadth and quality of the illustrations alone. The accompanying text is scholarly and wide ranging but would have benefited from a strong editor.