The Rhetoric of art as an individual expression

What is art? Truly, the concept of art itself can be vague, broad or open to interpretation. However, is rich in messages that sometimes can be really hard to identify. Art itself is one of the most pure forms of individual expression. An artistic piece is not necessarily created to state a message or to communicate, but some of the most famous masterpieces are a reflection of the artist thoughts, a picture of his deepest feelings or a provocative message to the society. The representation of Saturn devouring his sons by Francisco de Goya constitutes a strong political message that could have caused him death if it were expressed on a written document or on a speech. This masterpiece can be categorized as a mythological composition, and indeed it is. However, Goya also intended to represent the struggle of the people being squeezed by the politics of the Spanish royal family at the beginning of the XIX century.

Analyzing the rhetorical concepts, it can be stated that Saturn devouring its sons is a masterpiece because Goya was a well-known reputed artist that worked for the 1800’s elites of the Spanish society. That can constitute Goya Ethos, he has credibility, and therefore, the message will have a strong consideration. Following that, the painting shows a horrific scene, a little figure covered in blood, totally defeated, against the old Saturn, represented as massive, pop-eyed and unhinged man dismembering its own heir. All in that image surely provokes an emotion, the Pathos of the message. Attending to the logos, Goya makes logical analogies with what the country was facing. Spain was consumed in wars, its people (Saturn sons) were being taxed heavily to support the cost of a corrupt, old and inefficient absolute state (Saturn). Moreover, According with the myth Saturn feared that their sons will overthrow him and therefore he decided to brutally eat them. The same fear that an inefficient government may have of its people. A common reaction would be to control the situation implementing a suppressive politic based on fear and terror. Finally, the painting, and therefore the message, was made in the precise moment when important historical events were happening. The defeat of the Spanish army in the battle of Trafalgar, the War against France, Britain and Portugal, the economic crisis and the Aranjuez coup d’état were contemporary to the painting, a suitable moment for a political message that can be identified as the Kairos.

Secondly, speaking about the invention, the author choose to his rhetorical message a mythological theme to make an analogy with the social situation of the country. The use of a mythological theme to convey a message seems logical, since the author would risk too much if he directly criticized the Spanish government. The message is hidden but still effective. On the other hand, the arrangement is clearly visual, Goya did not need to write or speak about his piece to convey the message he wanted to state. All the elements present in the painting are structured and organized to imply an image of obscurity and desolation, this point connects with the style of the art piece. His “word choice” is once again obscure, setting a feeling of despair and negativity about the situation, the color distribution is dark and murky. The only fading light emanates from the dismembered body of the son (the people). This obscurity can have a strong impact to the intended audience, an uneducated society that maybe cannot identify the double meaning of the painting, but surely will be impacted by its darkness. Lastly, speaking about the memory, the mythological story of Saturn thus terrible and despairing ends with a message of hope. The Titan Gea hided and protected her son Zeus from the voracity of Saturn, whom once strong enough overthrow his father, liberated his brothers from the oppression and cruelty of his progenitor.  Once again the analogy appears, sending  a message of faith to the listener that invokes memory.