The giant, 1818, Aquatint with burnishing (first state) Francisco Jose De Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828)

The image, an aquatint with burnishing titled The Giant by Francisco Goya, depicts a massive, muscular figure crouched on what appears to be a dark, horizontal surface. The figure is seen from behind and slightly to the side, with its back powerfully curved. The musculature of the back and shoulders is heavily emphasized through dark, shadowy tones. The giants head is turned, and a face, rendered in shadow with stark highlights on the forehead, nose, and chin, looks directly at the viewer. It has a wild, coarse mane of hair.
The background is dark and atmospheric, with a smudged, indistinct texture. In the upper right corner, a crescent moon hangs in the night sky, accompanied by a few faint stars. The overall impression is one of immense power, primal force, and perhaps a sense of lurking danger or raw, untamed nature.
The subtext of the painting can be interpreted in several ways. The Giant is part of Goyas Black Paintings, a series known for its dark themes and exploration of human nature, madness, and the horrors of war. The giant could symbolize the destructive forces of humanity, the immense and often brutal power that resides within it, or even the oppressive weight of societal structures. Its solitary and imposing presence against a nocturnal, desolate landscape evokes a sense of isolation and primal fear. The direct gaze of the giant, despite its monstrous scale, creates an unsettling connection with the viewer, blurring the lines between observer and observed, and perhaps implicating humanity in the darkness it depicts. The artwork touches upon themes of scale, power, and the darker psychological aspects of existence.