The Colossus by Goya

The Colossus-Goya

The Colossus (known in Spanish as El Coloso or El Gigante), one of Goya's great masterpieces of history of painting, is a fine example of his romantic creativity. A totally gigantic man stands against the falling sky. Dark and bearded, robust and well proportioned, his hands raised in a threatening way, his back to us bare. He seems to be heading away from us to the left front of the photo. 

A range of hills is level with its upper thighs, giving us an idea of how massive it is, like the low clouds, around its thighs and buttocks. Interestingly, he appears to keep his eyes closed. When this is the case, it that symbolize the concept of blind abuse.Between us and the giant is a large gorge, the site of a mass migration of men, men, oxen, mules and horses.

 This mass of people and animals are running in terror, towards us (to the left) and away from the large figure on the horizon. In the extreme left corner, a man riding a galloping horse runs from the bottom of the painting as a dog tries to keep up with his master; behind him, another rider comes off his horse.A white-haired mule remains still farther out, hoping to be asked what to do. (Some scholars believe that this animal symbolizes the incomprehension of the atrocities of war.) Meanwhile, a herd of bulls is stamping out of the valley to the right, causing more uncertainty in the foreground.

The profound effect of The Colossus  is due to its inherent confusion. We have absolutely no idea if the giant has hurt anybody or anything. It is not necessary for him to do so to build so terrified exodus. Here is this aggressive entity of immense proportions, which might at any moment turn around and smash humans, wagons, and animals with its huge arms. This titanic human being is a horror from the pit of the unconscious.