Leïla Slimani on Goya, eroticism, and writing in the dark at the Prado
French-Moroccan novelist Leïla Slimani is in residence at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, drawing inspiration from Francisco Goya's Black Paintings, including Saturn Devouring His Son. She describes writing as an act akin to love, requiring darkness and secrecy. Slimani also discusses her decision to write about her father, who was jailed and later posthumously exonerated. The residency allows her to work in the museum before public hours, using the silent, shadowy galleries as a creative space.
Key facts
- Leïla Slimani is a French-Moroccan writer.
- She is in residence at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
- The residency lasts two weeks.
- She draws inspiration from Francisco Goya's Black Paintings.
- Goya's Saturn Devouring His Son is among her favorite works.
- Slimani compares writing to love, requiring darkness.
- She wrote about her father, who was jailed and posthumously exonerated.
- The museum opens to the public later in the morning.
Entities
Artists
- Leïla Slimani
- Francisco Goya
Institutions
- Museo del Prado
Locations
- Madrid
- Spain