A young woman looking into a well 1796 - 1797

Francisco de Goya rendered "A Young Woman Looking into a Well" with delicate strokes. The drawing's composition, bathed in muted grey washes, centers on a woman poised beside a well, her gaze directed into its depths. This evokes a sense of introspection. Goya’s formal choices here speak to his broader artistic concerns. The stark contrast of light and shadow, reminiscent of tenebrism, lends a dramatic quality to the scene, heightening the psychological tension. We see a semiotic reading of the well as a symbol of the unconscious, reflecting the emerging interest in the inner lives and emotions of individuals. The loose, expressive brushwork destabilizes traditional academic techniques, moving towards a more subjective and personal mode of expression. It serves as a visual language to communicate profound emotion. The emotional impact of the drawing is undeniable, drawing viewers into a reflective state.