Plate 36 from "Los Caprichos": A bad night (Mala noche) (1799)
Original title: Plate 36 from "Los Caprichos": A bad night (Mala noche)
kurzbeschreibung
Goya's etching "Mala noche" (plate 36) was made in 1799 as part of "Los Caprichos." It shows a woman in violent, almost convulsive movement that conveys distress or exhaustion. The combination of etched line and burnished aquatint plunges the action into a dim, oppressive night atmosphere.
Description
The female figure kneels on the ground, arms stretched forward, her body twisted in tension. Her garment falls loosely and underscores the vehemence of the gesture. Around her the space remains dark and undefined; only a sparing light rests on the figure and brings out her expression. At the bottom of the image the title "Mala noche" is inscribed in fine lettering.
Context
Between 1797 and 1799 Goya worked on "Los Caprichos," a satirical series about the Spanish conditions of his time. This plate 36 is among those works that address prostitution and social marginalization. In 1799 the collection appeared with 80 etchings, but was withdrawn soon after publication because of its biting criticism. For the drastic chiaroscuro effects Goya used aquatint.
Impact
A suffocating, inhospitable mood emanates from the image, carried by the gloomy tonality and the woman's contorted posture. Her expression wavers between despair and accusation and strikes the viewer directly. The restriction to a few tonal values and the focused light give the subject a strongly theatrical presence.
Technique
The etching combines etched lines with burnished aquatint. Goya thereby achieved a broad scale of soft gray tones and effective contrasts between light and dark. Lines and aquatinted areas interpenetrate and produce a lively, painterly-looking surface.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)