They are Hot (Estan Calientes), from "Los Caprichos"
Original title: Plate 13: They are Hot (Estan Calientes), from "Los Caprichos"
kurzbeschreibung
A group of people is thrown into commotion or astonishment in a dark, cave-like setting. Goya captured this subject as plate 13 of his print series 'Los Caprichos' around 1798 in etching and aquatint; the plate measures 21.6 × 15.3 cm.
Description
In the foreground a woman in a dark dress sits, her frightened gaze fixed on an object in her hand. Beside her a man has settled, his restless face betraying the same shock. Behind the two, other figures stand and sit at a table, reacting in similar fashion. Grays dominate the image, the light stays subdued and falls on the faces, making their emotional reactions stand out clearly.
Context
Between 1797 and 1798, the Caprichos were created as a satirical reckoning with Spanish society of the time, with superstition, the clergy, and social ills. Plate 13 belongs to the group of 'Sueños' (Dreams), which gathers allegorical and fantastic subjects. With aquatint, Goya achieved fine tonal gradations that carry the darkness of the mood.
Impact
A sense of oppression lies over the image, almost something threatening, which is heightened by the exaggerated, caricature-like expressions. Anyone standing before it is drawn into the tension of the figures — evidence of Goya's ability to make emotional states visible.
Technique
The etching was printed with aquatint, before the aquatint was smoothed. The etching carries the fine lines, while the aquatint provides even tonal areas that are crucial for the dark, atmospheric effect.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)