La Reina Mariana Como Pretexto IV (one of five from the portfolio)

Manolo Valdes

From a series of 5 engravings, some with collage, titled "La Reina Mariana Como Pretexto" (The Queen Mariana as a Pretext). Valdes created the portfolio in May of 1984 and it featured a forward by Valeriano Bozal, a Goya scholar and Spanish art historian.

Queen Mariana (1634-1696) was born in Austria and was the Queen Consort of Spain, married to Philip IV. Valdes has used her as the inspiration for many series of works in printmaking, painting, and sculpture, often deconstructing and reconstructing paintings of her by other painters, such as Velazquez. An oft-used element found in most of his works depicting the queen is the curved headpiece, as seen here in the top portion of the print.