c. 1815-1823, published 1864

Feminine Folly (Disparate Femenino)

Spanish, 1746 - 1828

This scene of six young women tossing two rag or straw dolls into the air at first appears to portray an innocent children’s game, a subject Goya had addressed in paintings early in his career. A closer look, however, reveals the curious presence of a man and a donkey nearly obscured in the blanket. This disquieting inclusion adds a bizarre element to the imagery that might otherwise be interpreted as a carnival scene or an allegory of women’s playful manipulation of men.