The Straw Manikin
Francisco Goya · 1791
Why it's great
Four young women toss a straw puppet, dressed in a man's clothes, high in a blanket in the open air. Goya painted this as a pattern for a tapestry. The bright colors and fun make it joyful. It's an amusing game from old Spain.
👀 Look closer!
The women toss a puppet in the air. What is it made of?
Where to see it
📍 Museo del PradoMadrid, Spain
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Francisco Goya was born in a small village in Spain and became the court painter to the Spanish kings in Madrid. After an illness left him deaf in his forties, his art grew darker and more personal. He witnessed war and cruelty and made powerful pictures about it. He spent his last years in Bordeaux, France, and is seen as a bridge between old masters and modern art.
