Plate 37 from "Los Caprichos": Might not the pupil know more? (Si Sabrá mas el discipulo?)
Original title: Plate 37 from "Los Caprichos": Might not the pupil know more? (Si Sabrá mas el discipulo?)
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures with animal heads converse in plate 37 of Francisco de Goya's 1799 etching series 'Los Caprichos'. The print combines etching, burnished aquatint and burin. It satirically addresses the limits of knowledge and education.
Description
A figure in rustic dress holds up a paper bearing the letters 'A' and 'B'. Behind it sits a creature with a donkey's head and a magnifying glass, peering at the sheet. Further donkeys are suggested in the distance. Subtle greys and restrained light bring out the contours. Along the bottom edge appears the Spanish title 'Si sabría mas el discipulo'.
Context
Between 1797 and 1799 Goya created 'Los Caprichos' as a critical engagement with Spanish society, its superstitions, ignorance and the powers of church and state. Plate 37 belongs to a group dealing with education and the relationship between teachers and pupils. The series was published in 1799 but soon withdrawn from the market because of its sharp satire.
Impact
Human bodies and animal heads collide, producing a disturbing, grotesque effect that heightens the satirical thrust. The calm, almost familiar layout keeps the viewer at a distance and invites reflection on the absurdity of what is shown.
Technique
For this etching the plate was grounded and bitten. Burnished aquatint creates fine tonal gradations, while the burin supplies precise lines and details. Together these techniques allow a nuanced rendering of light and shadow.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)