Self-Portrait in the Studio (Autorretrato en el taller)

This small painting is one of the few examples in which Goya depicts himself in a full-length portrait.

The great artist is seen painting a canvas, of which we can only see the rear, in front of a large window through which light is flooding in, creating an interesting visual dynamic in which the figure of the painter, looking towards the viewer, boldly stands out against the light. Goya is shown wearing breeches, a short jacket and a tall hat fitted with metal clasps into which the artist would have placed a number of candles to provide extra light when putting the finishing touches to a painting. In the words of his son, Javier de Goya: "the final touches, for the best effect in a painting, were done at night, with artificial light".

In his left hand he holds a palette, on which we can see ten colours laid out, and a number of brushes. His right hand holds the brush that he is currently using.

This work is one of those that shows us Goya's desire to evoke in his paintings "the magic of the atmosphere", a phrase that Javier Goya tells us was one of the painter's favourites.