@bymuseum: Witches’ Sabbath (1797–1798) By Francisco Goya 📍 Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid The goat looks like the monster. But Goya may be pointing at something worse. Women gather beneath the night sky. Children are offered toward a giant black goat. Bats circle above the ritual. Everything looks like a nightmare. But Goya was not documenting real witchcraft. He was painting superstition. This scene belonged to a series of witchcraft paintings made for the Dukes of Osuna. Its imagery may echo old stories connected with the Logroño witch trials of 1610. The real horror is not only the goat. It is the society willing to believe fear as truth. Which is more dangerous: the monster, or the fear that created it? 👉 Follow @bymuseum for vivid stories and hidden meanings in classical art.

Noacn :

The fear that created it is called Christianity, and Christians are still the same as they were back then.

ImLaini :

Where have I seen this before?

nana :

Francisco de Goya is one of my favs.

Jason :

People would never kill fetuses in modern times. Oh…

COLD FRONT :

horned animals are prey, not predators... so where do we get the idea that horns are devilish?

ELSM :

That's Black Phillip Would Thouest like to live deliciously?

mulder_scullyy :

the parables in this print are so numerous. I love this era of art so so so much

MagicMouse21 :

I can’t be the only one who thinks that goat looks a little silly, right?

Samm Slick :

I have a print of this on my wall 🥰🥰🥰

raskolnikov :

allegory for abortion

user6984372843498 :

And parents willing to give

KZM UFC :

“Goya makes superstition look almost believable…” this is the truth.

fox :

that goat is about to be sacrificed..

Nikki :

How conservatives think abortions work

eztrelladelplatanar :

More like the one with the live baby…

sandy44 :

one of my favorite artists

Moni Sigrist 💃🏻🥂🇨🇭 :

The monster doesn’t look like a monster though 😳

🌿❤Rowan and Rose❤🌿 :

they are starving

XinThink :

retro_star777 :

Reminds me of the movie the VVitch

ayaraashe :

Fabulous

Renzo :

How muchhh

𝙟𝙛𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 :

Goya's other masterpiece is classic nightmare fuel

fnamryjld2s :

Great art . 👍

𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐑 𝓐𝓵-𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲 :

the same scenario from the movie, The VViTCH