At that time infamous they call it Golden Age. But the truth is that, who lived and suffered, of gold we saw little; and silver, the fair. Sterile sacrifice, glorious defeats, corruption, picaresque, misery and little shame, of that we did have sport. What happens is that then one goes and looks at a painting by Diego Velázquez, hey some verses of Lope or Calderón, read a sonnet of Don Francisco de Quevedo, and it is said that good, that it may be worth it.
The period often referred to as the Golden Age is depicted as a time of grand achievements, but for those who truly experienced it, life was filled with hardship and minimal rewards. Despite the allure of wealth and glory, many faced sterile sacrifices and corruption, suggesting that the esteemed reputation of the era may not fully reflect its reality. Instead of the expected abundance, people grappled with misery and a lack of integrity, leading to a complex and often grim historical narrative.
Yet, amidst the struggles of daily life, the cultural contributions of the time endure. The artistic masterpieces of Diego Velázquez, as well as the literary works of Lope de Vega, Calderón, and Quevedo, offer a glimpse of beauty that transcends the hardships. While the reality of the Golden Age was marred by challenges, these artistic expressions provide a sense of worth and admiration that can be appreciated even today, highlighting the duality of the era's legacy.
