La maja desnuda

Francisco Goya painted this daring nude around 1797-1800, creating one of the most controversial works in Spanish art history. The woman reclines confidently on green velvet cushions and white sheets, looking directly at the viewer with an unflinching gaze. Unlike classical nudes that depicted goddesses or mythological figures, this is clearly a real woman from Goya's time, complete with her natural body and contemporary hairstyle. Her direct eye contact and unapologetic pose were considered shocking for the era. The painting's subject has been debated for centuries, with many speculating it might be the Duchess of Alba, one of Goya's patrons with whom he may have had a romantic relationship. The Spanish Inquisition certainly didn't appreciate the mystery or the nudity. Goya was summoned before them to explain himself, though he managed to avoid serious punishment. He painted a clothed companion piece called "La maja vestida" showing the same woman in identical pose but fully dressed, which made the nude version seem even more provocative by comparison.