Old Woman on a Swing

Old Woman on a Swing is an etching on laid paper created by Francisco Goya between 1824 and 1828. This period marks the final, profoundly intense phase of the artist’s career, much of which was spent in self-imposed exile in Bordeaux, France. Though the creation dates extend slightly beyond the defined period of 1801 to 1825, this work belongs aesthetically and technically to Goya’s late maturity, where his focus shifted intensely toward themes of absurdity, satire, and the grotesque observations of human nature. As a Spanish master of the Romantic era, Goya used the accessibility of printmaking to explore complex psychological and social subjects.

The medium of etching, executed on laid paper, allowed Goya to achieve a highly textured and dynamic quality. This print showcases the artist’s characteristic ability to manipulate line and tone, capturing dramatic contrasts that lend the image an unsettling depth. The subject of an elderly woman engaging in the youthful, frivolous activity of swinging is often interpreted as a commentary on mortality, the vanity of human desires, and the inevitable passage of time. The piece possesses the mordant, unsettling psychological humor that characterizes Goya’s most famous graphic arts series, particularly those developed during his later years of disillusionment.

Produced during a tumultuous time in European and Spanish history, this work reflects the critical perspective Goya maintained throughout his life. Goya consistently utilized the versatility of prints to disseminate his views, influencing generations of graphic artists who valued etching as a means of political and personal expression. This example of Goya’s sophisticated output is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public a direct connection to the enduring complexity of the master's later years. Due to its age and art historical importance, high-resolution images of this work are frequently available through public domain archives for study and appreciation.