Francisco Goya is noted as the "first modern artist," leaving his old classical techniques behind he spoke of his era in Spain where he witnessed rape, murder, torture, madness, and other horrific atrocities. His etching series called "Caprichos" and "Disasters of War" are nightmare like and what led him to his Black paintings, which were not commissioned or sold. There are arguments whether they were even shown.
Kenneth Clark, art historian, has said the above painting The Shootings of May Third 1808 , " is the first great picture which can be called revolutionary in every sense of the word, in style, in subject and in intention." His work definitely stays with you on many different levels. Yard with Lunatics scares me more for than anything else I've seen of his because of that little smiling figure in the corner. very unsettling.
