Self-Portrait; Plate 1 from "Los Caprichos"
Original title: Self-Portrait; Plate 1 from "Los Caprichos"
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes presents himself in profile, wearing a top hat and jacket. This 1799 print opens his graphic series 'Los Caprichos' and combines etching, aquatint, drypoint and burin.
Description
Goya appears in profile, clad in a tall top hat and a collared jacket. His gaze seems pensive, almost melancholy. A plain, dark background emphasizes the figure's contours. Along the bottom edge, in Latin letters, reads 'Franc. Goya y Lucientes, Pintor'. The monochrome execution thrives on dense, varying strokes that bring out surfaces and expression.
Context
In 1799, the year of its Madrid publication, this self-portrait opens Goya's satirical series 'Los Caprichos', which attacks social ills and superstition. The artist shows himself in a moment of pause — an overture that programmatically anticipates the critical stance of the cycle.
Impact
The dark, spare layout of the print immediately draws the eye to the facial features. The thoughtful expression and nuanced linework create an intimate, indeed introspective mood. Precision and melancholy combine into a serious, timeless presence.
Technique
For this print Goya used etching, supplemented by aquatint, drypoint and burin. Thus he achieved fine tonal gradations and exact lines. It was printed on paper; the plate measures 21.7 × 15 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)