CASP Day 3 The Third of May

Goya’s Third Of May is one of the all time great masterpieces. The light! 

And the dark- so much dark. 

I’ve always been drawn to this painting because of its structure, the X of light on the left- white halved by yellow, haloed in light. The right side of the canvas diagonally split in darkness. 

Of course I knew there was a violent story being depicted, a man about to be executed. But it was the painting that drew me in, not knowing the story, not needing to know it to be moved. A great painting.

Today I’m also thinking about that story, the one I never cared about.

El tres de mayo de 1808.

Napoleon’s soldiers killing of Spanish civilians by firing squad, for their crime of resisting his reign of tyranny. 

Tyrants- oppressive, cruel. 

Today is May 3rd, 2025. 

Tyrant. 

Resist.

The Third of May 1808 Francisco Goya at Museo del Prado

The Third of May 1808 - Francisco Goya