Look how solemn they are! (Miren que grabes!)
Original title: Plate 63 from "Los Caprichos": Look how solemn they are! (Miren que grabes!)
kurzbeschreibung
In 1799 Francisco de Goya published his etched series 'Los Caprichos', which includes plate 63, titled 'How serious they look!' ('Miren que grabes!'). It depicts three hybrid beings, part human and part animal, in a fierce confrontation. The image was made using etching, aquatint, and drypoint.
Description
Three figures face each other in tense, aggressive postures. The foremost combines a human body with a bird's head, while the other two join human faces to animal bodies. A flat landscape with a few trees forms the simple backdrop. The gray, monochrome tonality contributes to the dark and threatening mood. In the upper right, the number 63 is visible.
Context
Between 1797 and 1799, Goya created the Caprichos as biting satire on Spanish society, especially superstition, ignorance, and social ills. In 1799 the etchings were published as a collection, but soon afterward political pressure forced their withdrawal. Within the series, plate 63 belongs to the later works that increasingly deal with human folly and self-deception.
Impact
The hybrid creatures appear disturbing and grotesque; they unsettle the viewer and provoke reflection. Aggressive body language and dark tonality create a clear sense of threat. The ironic title undercuts the seriousness of the scene and underscores Goya's critical stance.
Technique
For this plate, Goya combined etching, aquatint, and drypoint, so that fine lines and soft tonal areas meet. Aquatint allows subtle gradations of gray that support the gloomy atmosphere. Drypoint gives certain passages a rougher, more spontaneous texture.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)