Three women, one in the foreground drawing water from a well, two in the background washing; folio 45 (recto) from the Madrid Album 'B'.

Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)

1795–97 · Brush and point of brush, carbon black washes, on laid paper · Drawings and Prints

As with several drawings from Album B, the same figure appears on both sides of this sheet. On the front, a young woman with a joyful expression pulls water from a well while her companions in the background wash laundry. On the other side, the same woman gazes sadly into the well. The two scenes—of first happiness, then disillusionment—might relate to a popular Spanish saying: 'mi gozo en un pozo' (my joy in a well).

Artist

Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)

Date

1795–97

Medium

Brush and point of brush, carbon black washes, on laid paper

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1935