Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, known as Goya (1746–1828), is one of the most important Spanish artists who influenced many others that came after him in the 18th and 19th centuries. He lived in a period of great change, such as the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and Napoleon’s invasions of Spain. Being greatly influenced by the Enlightenment, he developed an expressive language on his own by rejecting the acceptable aesthetics of his time and limitations such as being under patronage. His “free” and extensive artistic production captured aspects of everyday life, the effects of war, and Spain’s political, social, and economic issues. Throughout his artistic development, Goya’s early inclination was in-between rococo and classicism while being influenced by Italian masters. After maturing, his works transformed in such a way that Goya is considered the predecessor of the Romantic movement.

In Milan, Palazzo Reale hosted Goya: Rebellion of Reason, collaborating with the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, the Spanish Embassy in Italy, and the Instituto Cervantes of Milan. The exhibition, curated by Víctor Niente Alcaide, consists of seven thematic parts that reflect a narrative through Goya’s artistic journey. Due to the nature of his works, he also provides a chronological summary of events that occurred in the close geography of Spain in the 18th and 19th centuries in his own expressive and revolutionary language. Throughout the experience, the visitors can observe the change in subject, color usage, medium, and size.

The exhibition starts with light-colored classical portraits. As the narrative journey deepens, just like Goya’s own dark transformation of subjects, the colors of the display elements change from very light beige to reddish brown to black. The colors and backgrounds become monotonous but complex, the emotions become agitated or petrified, the subjects become more obscure, and the medium changes. Through the end, the etchings and their restored plates by the Real Academia di Bellas Artes de San Fernando catch the eye. The etchings and plates are displayed side by side, giving a glimpse of the work’s production process. The subjects of the etchings can be perceived as imaginary and sometimes from reality, nevertheless extremely grim.

The noteworthy aspect is that the design of the rooms corresponds to the pieces that they display. For instance, to strengthen the effects of the works about war, the walls are painted vivid red and feature continuous, dark-colored display panels as a contrast. The use of these panels is simple but genius. Beside the paintings that are significant, the continuous panels are angled to create extra space for display and printed with the details of the work. The angled panels are used differently for etchings. While enlarging the details of the etchings to make it more visible, also to support the theme’s complexity and sinisterness, the original monochrome details are introverted. The introverted colors are not black and white but rather black and red. The details not only catch the eye by simply being an enormously detailed war scene, but also the color choice changes the whole mise en scène to a blood bath-like scene. At the end of the experience, an uneasy feeling is left with the visitor.

Witnessing a complex master’s expression is truly astonishing; nonetheless, the interaction is enabled by the implementation of simple display elements varying in types of themes and works. The display supports the curator's narrative by allowing visitors to experience the complexities of the artist's works. Goya’s retrospective exhibition not only examines his artistic path but also his thought process, his influences, and his reality as a person living through such an erratic and violent period. Even after many years since his death, his rebellion is still a source of inspiration, carried on by people from a different era.