Goya

May 15, 2019
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes was a well-known Spanish romantic painter, much sought-after in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The latter half of his life was fraught with physical and mental illnesses. In this fictional account of that part of the artist's life, readers explore the demons that affected Goya's personal and professional life. Torres and Gal�n use the graphic-novel format to their advantage: Torres, as if writing horror, reflects on the people and places that affected Goya's life and how they fed into the terrifying images he saw. Gal�n keeps the illustrations dark in both palate and style: Goya's mental anguish and hallucinations are drawn in an increasingly rough and textured manner, allowing the reader to differentiate between reality and Goya's imaginings. For the best reading experience, previous knowledge of Goya as person and artist is helpful, as the prologue and back matter give insufficient background to the people and situations referenced throughout the book. This title will appeal equally to fans of gothic horror and biographical fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)