Even thus he cannot make her out (Ni asi la distingue), plate 7 from "Los Caprichos"
Original title: Even thus he cannot make her out (Ni asi la distingue), plate 7 from "Los Caprichos"
kurzbeschreibung
From Francisco de Goya's 1799 print series 'Los Caprichos' comes the plate 'Even so he cannot recognize her' (Ni asi la distingue). It is a drypoint etching with aquatint depicting a scene with several figures under the open sky. Number 7 in the 80-part Caprichos, which tackle social and political ills, this work belongs to the early part of the series.
Description
Three figures fill the image: a woman in a long, dark dress is embraced by a person in a shirt seen only from behind. On a bench in the back, another figure sits and watches the couple. Shades of grey dominate the whole surface; strong shadows and contrasts are created by light falling from above. The arrangement is asymmetrical, the woman in the foreground forms the focal point, while the bodies of the figures take on animated poses.
Context
Goya's 'Los Caprichos' appeared in 1799, a suite of 80 etchings to which this plate belongs. In it, the artist took up social abuses, superstition and the follies of his era, often with biting irony or moral intent. As number 7, the work counts among the early plates of the series, which often deal with relations between the sexes and prostitution. Because of its critical stance, the series was withdrawn shortly after publication.
Impact
The dark, strongly contrasting design evokes an oppressive and intimate mood. The animated bodies of the figures and the unclear surroundings increase the feeling of concealment and tension. The viewer is drawn into an event that is at once curious and leaves one in uncertainty.
Technique
Drypoint, aquatint and etching come together here, allowing fine gradations in tone and soft transitions. The aquatint provides the grey areas, while drypoint and etching ensure clear lines and details. It was printed on paper; the plate measures 19.7 x 14.8 cm, the sheet format is larger.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)