Pelckmans publishes a richly illustrated book on Goya as part of Europalia España

Pelckmans is publishing the unique and richly illustrated catalogue accompanying the Europalia exhibition Luz y sombra. Goya and Spanish realism, on view from 8 October until 11 January at Bozar in Brussels.

Francisco de Goya (1746–1828) and his oeuvre have been symbols of Spanish identity since the nineteenth century. This publication celebrates the contradictions and nuances that arise from this identification while also exploring lesser-known aspects of his career. It accompanies the EUROPALIA ESPAÑA exhibition Luz y sombra. Goya and Spanish realism (Bozar, Brussels – 8 October 2025 to 11 January 2026) and offers a fresh perspective on contemporary Spanish art through the legacy of Goya.

The artist’s work is presented alongside that of Spanish artists from the 18th to the 21st centuries, who revived the realist tradition of Spain’s Golden Age and offered a modern view on mysticism and the picaresque at the dawn of a new visual regime.

With this book, readers and visitors receive an indispensable guide to one of the most ambitious exhibitions of the coming year. The book not only sheds new light on Goya’s work but also demonstrates how his legacy has profoundly shaped the history of Spanish art – from the eighteenth century to today.

Four A5 photographs featuring hands by Laura San Segundo and fellow artist Alejandría Cinque (b. 1990, Madrid) are randomly inserted in every catalogue. These images aim to reflect the dialogue generated in cultural exchanges between two territories and their respective potentials. At the same time, they explore the constant tension between heritage and contemporaneity.

Goya’s legacy

Goya is often described as both the last of the old masters and the first of the moderns. His work, balancing between court painting and radical social critique, continues to fascinate to this day. Goya gained renown with his portraits of nobles and prominent thinkers of the Spanish Enlightenment. At the same time, in his drawings, etchings, and paintings, he mercilessly depicted the darker side of his era: the horrors of war, religious repression, and social hypocrisy. This tension between light and shadow – between beauty and raw reality – lies at the heart of both the exhibition and the book.

A dialogue across generations

The book not only highlights Goya’s own mastery but also the way he challenged later generations of artists. Figures such as Ignacio Zuloaga, José Gutiérrez Solana, Pablo Picasso, Jorge Oteiza, and Cristina García Rodero entered into dialogue with him, inspired by his formal inventiveness and fearless gaze at reality. In this way, the book makes clear how Goya’s legacy continues to shape and nourish Spanish art today.

A richly illustrated edition

Luz y sombra. Goya and Spanish Realism offers a richly illustrated overview of the exhibition, placing the works in their historical and cultural context. The book combines in-depth essays with a carefully curated selection of images, appealing both to art lovers and a broad, interested audience.

Europalia España

Since 1969, Europalia has been organizing multidisciplinary art festivals that spotlight the cultural wealth of different countries. For the 2025 edition, Spain takes center stage, with special attention to its artistic tradition and contemporary dynamism. As a key figure in Spanish art history, Goya is the ideal focal point.

Practical information

More information here
​A digital preview copy can be found here

Laura San Segundo and Alejandría Cinque Untitled, from the series Mimetic Exercises, 2017Laura San Segundo Orange, from the series An Apparently Irrelevant Gesture, 2022