Children playing at jumping

Throughout his career, Goya painted several scenes featuring children. This series of six canvases, titled Children’s Games, has been preserved; these charming scenes, full of action and movement, depict the harsh lives of children from humble backgrounds and the public’s indifference toward them. Three of the scenes in the series are set in Rome, Italy, and the other three in Spain. They showcase the unbridled strength and vigor of childhood.

A group of children are playing a game of jumping over one of their peers, who is crouching down. The scene is set in an urban environment on the outskirts of Madrid, against a backdrop of spread-out sheets and buildings. Goya depicts the children’s various postures as they jump.