Linda maestra! 1796 - 1797

Curator: Take a look at "Linda maestra!", a print created between 1796 and 1797 by Francisco de Goya. It's an etching and engraving, part of his series "Los Caprichos". What strikes you first about it? Editor: That dark humor of Goya cuts through everything. They’re practically gliding through nightmare fuel, an unnerving mix of playful fantasy and social critique. Curator: Absolutely. It depicts two figures seemingly flying on a makeshift broomstick—one young and nude, the other appearing much older and hag-like, with an owl looming above. The owl, traditionally a symbol of wisdom, but here? Something more sinister. Editor: Exactly. Consider the symbolism: the nude figure possibly representing vulnerability or innocence exploited. She could also stand for ideal beauty used by older authority, like a source of stolen youthfulness, represented by the "pretty teacher," as the title says. Curator: That title, “Linda maestra!”, which translates to "Pretty teacher!", is wonderfully sarcastic. Goya was often poking fun at the hypocrisy and follies of the aristocracy and the clergy. The older woman’s prominence on the broom might represent the power these established, often corrupt, figures held. Editor: The print medium also holds its weight. The choice of etching allows for incredibly fine lines, bringing out both the beauty and grotesqueness of the image, it really lends itself well to fantastical dark elements. It echoes a long tradition of flying figures that symbolize journeys—only this journey seems rather bleak and earthbound! Curator: The darkness surrounding them accentuates the overall atmosphere, and look how it's executed – there's almost this smoky depth around them that seems to blur the boundaries between the material and spectral world. This creates a fascinating interplay of visual language. Editor: Absolutely, that play with shadow gives everything an undercurrent of hidden desires, forbidden rituals… I get the impression that Goya wants us to ask whether beauty is simply on the arm of age and what the consequences of such dependency can be! Curator: A provocative piece for sure. It invites us to question who truly benefits from these power dynamics and the masks people wear, and who are we flying with. Editor: And where exactly. I still get chills from that flying pair and all the ambiguous suggestions that travel with them.