They've already got a seat (Ya tienen asiento)
Original title: Plate 26 from "Los Caprichos": They've already got a seat (Ya tienen asiento)
kurzbeschreibung
Plate 26 from Francisco de Goya's series Los Caprichos, made in 1799. This etching with burnished aquatint presents a group of people indoors, caught up in conversation.
Description
At the front stands a woman in rustic dress, apron and headscarf, her face turned to the left with a flustered look. A second woman has taken a seat on a stool, also in peasant clothing, gazing calmly in the same direction. Behind the pair, two more figures hold chairs and appear to be part of the exchange. The arrangement is lopsided, drawing attention to how the figures relate to one another; the grey values and even spread of light are typical of the etching process.
Context
The print appeared in 1799 within Goya's Caprichos cycle, a satirical attack on social abuses and superstition. It belongs to a group of works dealing with the role of women and codes of social behaviour. Goya published the series himself, having first conceived it as a response to the Spanish Enlightenment and its ideals. Aquatint made it possible to achieve delicate tonal gradations, which give the cycle its characteristic sombre mood.
Impact
The muted greys and calm layout leave the sheet feeling oppressive and reflective. The standing woman's slightly embarrassed posture breeds an undercurrent of tension that prompts the viewer to think about the social position of those depicted.
Technique
An etching with burnished aquatint on paper, a process allowing fine lines and soft transitions of tone. The plate measures 21.2 × 15 cm, the sheet 29.5 × 21 cm; formats of this kind are usual for the Caprichos series.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)