Neither more nor less (Ni mas ni menos)
Original title: Plate 41 from "Los Caprichos": Neither more nor less (Ni mas ni menos)
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes contributed this sheet as number 41 in his 1799 etching series 'Los Caprichos'. Executed in etching, aquatint, and drypoint, it presents a mocking scene: a donkey and a monkey, both standing before a framed painting.
Description
A seated donkey examines a painting on an easel, in which a female figure with a bowl appears. To the right, a small monkey has settled down, also gazing at the canvas. The dark, barren background makes the figures and the painting stand out clearly; the rendering remains in black and white, with delicate strokes and restrained tonal gradations, as is typical of Goya's etchings.
Context
The 'Los Caprichos' were developed in the 1790s and published in 1799. Goya used the medium to attack social ills, superstition, and the follies of his era. Plate 41 belongs to the group dealing with the nature of artists and critics, and reveals the artist's Enlightenment stance, as he detached himself from outdated hierarchies.
Impact
The scene feels ironic and thought-provoking, since the donkey can be read as a sign of stupidity or an uncritical attitude. Clarity of layout and restrained coloration direct attention to the relationship between viewer and artwork. Through the mild light, the image acquires a familiar, almost self-reflexive mood.
Technique
For this print, Goya combined etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint, and burin. Aquatint allows fine tonal steps, while drypoint and burin set precise lines and details. At approximately 29.5 x 20.9 cm, the paper format matches the usual size of the 'Los Caprichos' series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)