The Third of May 1808

The first thing that the view notices in this piece is the main focal point, the man on his knees with his hand up. You can tell that he is the focal point because he is the only person in the painting who has very distinct features. First off his appearance gives off a lot of information. He is wearing a plain white shirt and his skin is very dark, showing that he is a common worker. Also the way he is portrayed tells the viewer a lot about the painting. He is shown kneeling with his hands up and his eyebrows are pointed up showing fear and concern. The combination of the physical position he is in and his facial expression really show his innocence effectively. The next thing that is very noticeable is the lantern that is sitting between the firing line and those being executed. It creates a distinct line between the two parties that represents the divide between good and evil. The main character’s clothes match those of the lantern which is showing the viewer that he is the focal point for the “good” side of the painting. (TTOM 1808) Beside him are a priest or friar, multiple corpses, and the people that he is defending that are behind him. On his left is a line of people awaiting their death that seems to go back as far as the building in the background of the painting. Opposed to the light side of the painting is the darkness of the firing line. The first thing to notice when looking at this side of the painting is how the line of soldiers seems to be portrayed as a single unit, which could be Goya trying to show the lack of individuality of soldiers as armies got bigger during this era. Their backs are also turned to the viewer which could be showing their ignorance towards the people being killed. This painting is a very different interpretation of war for the time. It is considered one of the first pieces of the modern era because of its modern depiction of war. The art historian Kenneth Clark described The Third of May 1808 as “the first great picture that can be called revolutionary in every sense of the word, in style, in subject, and in intention.” (TTOM 1808)

This painting was commissioned by the Spanish government in 1814 to commemorate the Spanish resistance to Napoleon during the French occupation of Spain in 1808. This occupation started after the French revolution when Napoleon asked Spanish King Charles IV about a plan to conquer and split Portugal between Spain and France. Little did the Spanish know Napoleon was in contact with Ferdinand VII of Spain who intended to take over the Spanish government and crown while they were in peace. (TTOM 1808) Goya had supported the French throughout their revolution and hoped similar things would come of Spain but he was placed in a very hard position when the French invaded Spain in 1808.

This piece was selected for this group of paintings because it shows the tragedies of war and conflict and the fear that it instills in the people. The fear in the eyes of the main character of the piece is so intense that it really rubs off onto the rest of the painting, giving the viewer a better understanding of what was suffered during these violent times.

"The Third of May 1808." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 22 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_of_May_1808>.