The composition of the art evokes the traditional elements of industrial Europe. The painting depicts three men engaging in unrelenting labor as blacksmiths. The man on the left is bending behind the anvil, facing forward as he is using a pair of tongs to hold a hot metal object firmly on the anvil. The main tone of The Forge is earthy. The smoke behind three figures eliminates potential distractions from other objects and the illusion of depth so that the main characters become more highlighted; meanwhile, smokey and dark background renders a depressive atmosphere. Goya creates a somber mood in this painting to remind his audience of the unrelenting labor and unavoidable toll of time during the industrial era. For instance, the figure of an older man bent at the center of the painting allows the audience to connect with the subject and develop a personal attitude emotionally.
The color and style in the painting act as critical elements that affect the viewer’s imagination and perception of the painting. The dark hues are most common in three workers’ clothes, including black, darkly olivaceous, and gray. The blacksmith is wearing a light-colored shirt with gray leggings – his sleeves are rolled up while the left side of the legging had dropped at the forger's ankle, showing his ankle. On the other hand, the man holding the tongs is dressed in complete black attire, with his shoulders slightly being exposed. The exposed flesh and the blacksmith's light-colored shirt and a small glimpse of intense red color reflecting the hot metal provide a scene for vibrant color.
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The pervasive darkness demonstrated through the colors influence the imagination of the audience; thus, it is easy to notice the dusty and dirty clothes, even though one of them is wearing a white top. Those colors imply that three metalworkers have been working for a long time, and there is no chance to take a break to wash their clothes. Through the use of color composition, Goya is able to reinforce the harsh working conditions of laborers during industrial Europe. Additionally, when the audience focuses on the middle of the painting, they can feel the high temperature in this working environment. The scarlet in the middle and the red liquid constantly radiates heat; thus, capturing the work environment of blacksmiths. The vivid red color allows the audience to imagine the harsh working conditions that the men were subjected to. Goya's effective integration of the dull and bright colors through the depiction of the physical environment of the laborers emphasizes the long working hours, the depression, and the intensity of the figures.
The same theme of a painting is not only reflected in its color, shadow, and composition but also embodied in the depiction of people. Francisco Goya illustrates three workers' inward world in terms of clothes, actions, and actions. The first figure's actions and clothes suggest his inner world. His left sock dropped from his knee, which might imply that he highly concentrates on his work instead of some small details. Not only that but rolling up his sleeves reveals the severe working environment and worker's concentration. Secondly, on account of Goya's fine brush marks, the audience can easily recognize the strong power of his muscles and actions. His two legs stand on the ground; his body is leaning back; his hand is holding the hammer tightly. Taking advantage of each inch of his muscles is the consequence of extensive and repetitive work.
The left figure revealed his chest and rolled up his sleeves also emphasizes the hotness. As we know, metals are good conductors of heat; however, his hands are firmly holding the metal and are close to the stove and the red liquid. The odd situation indirectly shows that they are not afraid of the extreme environment and have an extraordinary and robust will. On the other hand, his facial expression also serves the same theme: his eyes are focusing on the front instead of his hands; his lips are pressed. They might imply that he is very familiar with his work and does not need to pay attention to it.
It is noticeable for the audience that the right figure's facial features are different from others'. Thus, it can be assumed that he is older than the other blacksmith – his grey hair and mustache imply that he has a more extensive work experience than the others. Moreover, his face turned red because of the heat, but his eyes are concentrating on the other person's hands. Overall, he might be the oldest and the most experienced worker in the painting, and it also suggests the work is endless.
Not only did Francisco Goya apply colors masterly, but he also controlled the relationship of light and shadow skillfully. One of the noticeable characteristics of the painting is the positioning and posture of the three figures' stretched shadows. In the picture, lighting plays an integral role in influencing how the audience perceives the characters. The scene captured in The Forge utilizes light with a high level of variance; thus, changing the mood and overall effect that the image has on the viewers. For instance, there is only one illuminant in the left, and it is close to the ground; therefore, this placement of light leads to the creation of long and stretched shadows are created.
Lighting in this paint is as important as it is in cinematography. Like many movie scenes, the primary function of the single light resource is highlighting central figures; thus, in The Forge, Goya uses light to create a scary and dreadful atmosphere through the long stretched shadows. Additionally, the use of light by Goya invokes symbolic imagery. Consequently, he uses light to determine the tone and mood that the subjects of his painting will convey to his audience. The shadows create a mysterious atmosphere that allows the viewer to question the current emotional and mental state of the workers. The use of hard light in the painting creates dark and sharp edges on the shadow together with the positioning and stance of the blacksmiths the audience's mood will shift from appreciating the labor of hardworking men to feeling sad because of the subjective conditions they are exposed to.
Goya's mastery use of lighting to alter the mood of the audience is elaborated through the relationships between light and shadow. The twisted shadows on the ground, the relationship of light and shadow on workers' faces are precise. The lateral light divided the face of the worker with a black uniform into two different parts. When side light applies to a person's face, it creates a massive part of the shadow, and the dark shades enhance the feelings of horror and depression.
The interaction between the different elements in the painting enhances the message of unrelenting labor conveyed, and somber mood expressed in the art. Goya has exploited the composition of the picture to improve the feelings of depression and hopelessness that the subjects may be feeling. Primarily, centered on the stove, the distance between each figure is shorter than the normal. For example, the metalworker with a white top is holding a hammer, but it seems like the hammer is going to hit the other worker's head. Besides, the worker on the right bends down, and his head is next to the other blacksmith. Usually, it is almost impossible for people to work together at such a compressed distance. However, the unique composition might imply that three workers are proficient and understood the requirements of heavy and repetitive tasks. Likewise, they contrast between the background and the figures also represent the uniqueness of the composition. For instance, there is no object in the background except a heap of distorted metal; compared to the background's emptiness, the compression of three figures becomes more strange and distinctive. As a result, the unusual composition created by Goya correctly serves the same thesis, the intensity of workers.
Conclusion
Through the painting, the audience understands the work environment during the European industrial period, whereby workers were subjected to harsh working conditions. Francisco Goya's The Forge illustrates three metalworkers' boredom and depression of the repeated work by gray and smoky color tones. The composition of the painting, positioning of the subjects, and the use of lighting allow the audience to connect with the subjects as Goya uses subjectivity, imagination, and emotions to connect the subject and his audience.
