Tantalus (Tantalo), plate 9 from "Los Caprichos"
Original title: Tantalus (Tantalo), plate 9 from "Los Caprichos"
kurzbeschreibung
This etching by Goya, titled 'Tantalus', belongs to his 'Los Caprichos' series published in 1799. It shows a woman in a light dress lying on the ground and gazing up at a pyramid, while a man in dark clothing stands beside her. The work is executed as an etching with burnished aquatint.
Description
In the foreground, a woman in a white garment reclines, her face turned upward, mouth open as if crying out or praying. A man in dark attire stands to the side, also looking up, one hand pressed to his forehead. A pyramid stretches from left to right across the background. The layout is weighted unevenly: the two figures and the pyramid behind them dominate the sheet. Gloomy tones and strong hatching define the image.
Context
In 1799, Goya published 'Los Caprichos', a series of 80 prints that critique society through satirical and allegorical imagery. 'Tantalus' draws on the ancient myth in which Tantalus suffers eternal torment for his transgressions. Goya used the figure to castigate human vices and follies. Because of its critical stance, the series was withdrawn shortly after its release.
Impact
The dark mood and violent gestures evoke a sense of oppression in the viewer. Etching and aquatint create a deep, velvety tonal effect that sustains the melancholy undercurrent. The uneven arrangement draws the eye to the figures and heightens the impression of desolation and distress.
Technique
Etching with burnished aquatint allows for fine tonal gradations and soft shading here. The plate measures 20.8 × 15 cm, the sheet 30.5 × 19.9 cm. This method permits precise line work in the figures and atmospheric depth in the background.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)