Plate 22 from 'Los Caprichos': Poor little girls! (Probrecitas!)
Original title: Plate 22 from 'Los Caprichos': Poor little girls! (Probrecitas!)
kurzbeschreibung
For plate 22 of Los Caprichos, published in 1799, Goya gives us three young women standing together in a gloomy room. This particular example is a posthumous impression of the etching with burnished aquatint, pulled after the artist's death; the plate measures 21.6 × 15.2 cm. The subject ties social criticism to a dark, emblematic picture of female poverty.
Description
Three women in plain, traditional-looking garments occupy a sparsely furnished room. The one on the left wears an apron and carries a bag, the middle figure is wrapped in a cloak, and the one on the right has a long skirt and a bag at her belt. Their serious faces turn in different directions, producing a mood of inner conflict. Behind them stand a simple wooden bench and a small basket. Dim light falls from above onto their faces and upper bodies, while dark, earthy tones dominate the image.
Context
Made in Madrid in 1799, Los Caprichos served Goya as a critical forum for social ills and human folly. Plate 22 belongs to a group of works dealing with the situation of women and their social vulnerability. The posthumous edition to which this example belongs was printed after Goya's death and testifies to the lasting impact of his graphic work. With aquatint, Goya achieved fine tonal gradations that contribute to the somber underlying mood.
Impact
The muted contrasts and the women's serious expressions create an oppressive, almost melancholy atmosphere. The central arrangement and the light falling from above draw attention to the figures; their isolation and their fate invite reflection. Because only a few pictorial elements appear, the subject gains additional emblematic density.
Technique
For soft tonal transitions and deep shadows, Goya used etching with burnished aquatint. The partial burnishing of the aquatint allowed a fine gradation of gray tones. Printing was done on paper; the plate measures 21.6 × 15.2 cm, and the sheet format is 24.2 × 18 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)