Loyalty (ca. 1815–19 (private printing ca.1854))
Original title: 'Loyalty' from the 'Disparates' (Follies / Irrationalities)
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya made "Treue" as part of his series "Disparates" — roughly "Follies" or "Irrationalities" — between 1815 and 1819. The print, an etching with burnished aquatint, brings together a group of people at a grim gathering.
Description
In a dark, almost black-and-white tonality, a crowd of figures appears. Some of them laugh or shout, while others look serious or troubled. Several hold objects that recall plates. The layout feels asymmetrical: one figure in the foreground leans forward, holding something in one hand. The varied poses and expressions give the scene a sense of restless movement.
Context
The "Disparates" belong to Goya's late work, made after the Napoleonic Wars and during the Restoration in Spain. During his lifetime the plates stayed unpublished; a first private edition appeared around 1854. They often deal with social aberrations and human foolishness, though the precise meaning of individual prints such as "Treue" has not come down to us.
Impact
The murky, nearly monochrome world of the image and its diffuse light produce an oppressive, serious mood. The forceful figures and the irregular arrangement give the sheet an immediate, almost unsettling presence.
Technique
As an etching with burnished aquatint, the process allows fine lines and graded shading. Burnished aquatint yields soft tonal transitions and a deep, velvety black that supports the sombre atmosphere.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)