Masked Ball (Baile de máscaras)

The composition is dominated by a large arch which allows the light to penetrate, leaving the upper corners of the picture in total shadow. Under the arch we can see a group of masked figures dancing. In the centre of the canvas, a girl dressed in a yellow dress raises her arms and left leg as she makes a dance move reminiscent of the Aragonese jota (folk dance). Another three figures dance with her. On the left, sheltering under the arch, three humble-looking characters are sitting, ignoring the dance being performed by those in front of them, thus creating a great contrast between the poses of the two groups of figures.

The theme of masks makes an appearance in various works by Goya, a noteworthy example being The Burial of the Sardine, in which the painter reveals his vision of an irrational society to the viewer. Perhaps he wanted to express his perplexity before a people imbibed with the most macabre traditions.

The brushstrokes used for this tiny painting are notable for their thickness, and they are especially visible in illuminated areas such as the light of the arch and the clothing of the central figure.