It is nicely stretched (Bien tirada está), plate 17 from "Los Caprichos"
Original title: It is nicely stretched (Bien tirada está), plate 17 from "Los Caprichos"
kurzbeschreibung
A standing woman bends over another woman reclining on a bed. That motif defines plate 17 of Los Caprichos, titled "Bien tirada está" (Beautifully Stretched). Francisco de Goya made the etching in 1799, working in etching, aquatint, and burin. The sheet belongs to the series' satirical social pictures.
Description
Two women occupy a gloomy room. The standing figure, in a long dress and head covering, leans over a seated or lying woman in a robe. The layout is centered, with the figures in the foreground while the background sinks into darkness. Dim light falls on their bodies, heightening the drama. The prevailing grays come from the interplay of etching and aquatint.
Context
Created between 1797 and 1799, Los Caprichos was published in 1799 as a series of 80 etchings. Goya took aim at social ills, superstition, and the follies of Spanish society. Plate 17 belongs to a group that critically examines prostitution and moral decay. Shortly after publication, the series was withdrawn from sale — presumably because of its sharp criticism of the nobility and clergy.
Impact
The dark lighting and tight framing create an oppressive, intimate mood. Bright figures stand out against the nearly black background, drawing the eye to the interaction between the two women. The image reads as a quiet but insistent comment on power relations and social dependency.
Technique
The plate was executed in etching with burnished aquatint and burin. Aquatint provides fine tonal gradations and deep shadows, while the burin sets precise lines for details. The paper measures 24.99 × 15.01 cm — a typical size for the Caprichos series.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)