Que viene el Coco. (Here comes the bogey-man.) — History & Facts
In Que viene el Coco, Francisco de Goya presents a dark and unsettling scene. The painting features a shadowy figure looming over a frightened child, evoking a sense of fear. The color palette is dominated by deep blacks and browns, creating a dramatic contrast with the pale skin of the child.
This stark use of color enhances the emotional impact of the work. The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a medium that allows for rich textures and deep colors. Goya's brushwork is expressive, with visible strokes that add to the tension of the scene. The dimensions are approximately 100 x 150 cm, making it a sizable work that commands attention.
The composition is carefully arranged to draw the viewer's eye toward the central figure of the child. Francisco de Goya created Que viene el Coco during a time when Spanish society was deeply influenced by folklore and superstition. This work reflects the fears of parents regarding the bogeyman, a figure used to scare children into obedience. Interestingly, Goya's exploration of dark themes foreshadows the psychological depth found in later art movements.
The painting remains a significant example of Romanticism in Spanish art.
More Artworks by Francisco de Goya

El sueño de la razon produce moustruos (Serie Caprichos)
Francisco de Goya

Portrait of Doña María Teresa de Vallabriga y Rozas (1759-1820)
Francisco de Goya

Portrait of the Duchess of Osuna
Francisco de Goya

Queen of Spain Maria Louisa, née Bourbon-Parma
Francisco de Goya

Queen María Luisa on horseback
Francisco de Goya

Y no hai remedio
Francisco de Goya

The Immaculate Conception
Francisco de Goya

Portrait of Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
Francisco de Goya

Portrait of Maria Josefa of Spain
Francisco de Goya

Charles IV in his Hunting Clothes
Francisco de Goya
More Genre Scene Art

Banquet of the Officers of the St George Civic Guard
Frans Hals

Rembrandt and Saskia in the Scene of the Prodigal Son
Rembrandt van Rijn

Bal du moulin de la Galette
Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Quadrille at the Moulin Rouge
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

A Burial at Ornans
Gustave Courbet

When Will You Marry?
Paul Gauguin
