Essay On Goya Painting Of 1808

The painting by Goya shows an execution of people probably by shooting. The artist used a great deal of color and line to show emotion, motion, mood and symbolism. In the painting, colors used are the main aspects that depict emotion and mood. The lines depict more of motion and symbolism.
Closely examining the painting, the dark color depicts a lot of tension. The dark color increases the suspense on the scene. This adds to the drama effect in the painting making the general painting more emotional. The red color adds to the already high tension which depicts that someone has just been shot and the other victims are next on line of execution. It also depicts doom and death while the house at the right corner background shows that the victims have been taken from their point of residence to another place probably in an open field where the executioners are lined as a firing squad aiming at the victims.
The lines on the painting depict motion. The lines used mostly on the outline of the victims depict surrendering which is a motion in the painting. The other lines for example of the victim who has just been executed have fallen to the ground. The executioners are shooting at the victims who appear to be petrified and cornered.
Comparing the color scheme used in the painting with neoclassical painting, the color that would be used would be different making the final painting to convey a different meaning. One of the differences would be the mood depicted. Generally, neoclassical paintings depict restricted emotion thus may not be adequate for the intended message. This would then transform the actual atmosphere in the painting from being full of tension to comic. The color scheme also is presumed to be different making it possible for the difference in information conveyed. Neoclassical paintings generally depict a moral lesson which should be encouraged and uses cool colors which is not the case in the intended painting. This would alter the overall meaning of the painting making it be different.