Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish painter and printmaker who is considered one of the most important and influential figures in Western art history. Over the course of his long career, he created a wide range of works, including portraits, historical paintings, and powerful series of prints. His art is characterized by bold compositions, dramatic use of light and shadow, and an unflinching depiction of human suffering, violence, and social injustice. After a serious illness left him deaf, his work became darker and more introspective, culminating in the haunting “Black Paintings.” Although he achieved success as a court painter, his later works reflected deep personal and political disillusionment. He died at the age of eighty-two, leaving a lasting impact on the development of modern art.