Customer Reviews

Goya: Awakened in a Dream

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There were realities of history and culture that affected this great artist. Art appreciation can transcend class and the stereotypes of society.

The painters collection is for people who love the Masters and just like a fun film for childern and adults alike. Degas is my favorite. There are other films with the impressionist. You may want to rent one before buying.

I have been using this video for several years with high school design students. They respond well to it, and it is a good springboard for class discussions. I follow this in the next class period with a slide lecture on Goya's life and the purposes his art served at different stages, including: sports reporting (for example, "Unfortunate Incident in the First Row"); decorative and practical (the tapestry cartoons); social criticism with Enlightenment values (The Caprices); Political power and criticism (Portrait of King Carlos IV and family); Portraiture--and veiled love note (Duchess of Alba); Propaganda--in a GOOD sense (The Third of May, 1808); a personal thank-you note (Dr. Arietta); psychological self-examination and catharsis (The Black Paintings); even sexual excitation (both the Clothed and Nude Majas).

I believe the students respond better to my slide lecture because they have first gotten to know Goya as a flesh and blood human being through this excellent film. I must have watched it at least twenty times in the last seven years, and can find no significant fault with it.

This year I used it as the beginning of a unit on drawing from observation, and Goya's advice to Rosarita was exactly what I want the students to get: (slightly paraphrased) "You've drawn what you think a tree is like; you must learn to see, and to draw a tree it as it really is."

I just wish it was available on DVD!

This is the story of the great painter Goya, and Rosarita, a poor child who dreams of 'the art of strokes', while her canvas is the earth, and her finger the only sketch.
Goya moves from the King's Court to a rustic life, so that he can paint in peace and not worry about what theme in his painting will offend the church.
When Rosarita chalks out a picture of him as a wicked man, he is impressed by her talent ,but realises that she needs help in 'seeing' more than just two eyes can see, to be a good painter.
He then appoints Rosa's mother as the housekeeper giving them a roof. While he is doing paintings in his own style, he also teaches Rosa to finetune her skills and lets Rosa do an ivory painting. She does the ivory more justice than expected from a child.
Two extremes in relation to parents, children and art can be seen. Goya's son is a failure at art. Rosa's mother believes art's no good to earn bread.The son's dedication for father, trying to get him out of Inquisition, have been well brought out.
Towards the end, an important point is driven home, that it is scary to express your innermost fears, but the result will relieve you, for having found the expression. After all, what good is art if you cannot communicate your deep felt emotions.