Plate 57 from "Los Caprichos": The filiation (La filiacion)
Original title: Plate 57 from "Los Caprichos": The filiation (La filiacion)
kurzbeschreibung
Goya's etching "Die Abstammung" (La filiacion) from 1799 belongs to his series Los Caprichos. It presents a group of figures in an interior. The image is executed as a drypoint etching with aquatint and is one of the socially critical prints in the series.
Description
In the foreground a woman in a long robe sits reading a book; another woman stands beside her and hands her something. Behind them appear two more figures: one with a large hat, seemingly laughing, and a laughing figure holding an object. Black-and-white shades of grey dominate, as is typical of etching and aquatint. The figures are drawn in detail, their distribution in the space feels balanced.
Context
The etching was made in 1799 as part of Los Caprichos, a series of 80 prints that satirically address social ills and human follies. Goya worked during a time of political and social upheaval in Spain, influenced by the French Revolution and the Inquisition. The print is number 57 and bears the title "La filiacion," which points to the genealogical or social aspect of the motif.
Impact
Finely graded greys and precise drawing give the scene a calm yet ironic note. The laughing figures in the background contrast with the reading woman in front and create an unsettling tension. Goya's visual language here demonstrates his ability to charge everyday scenes with critical depth.
Technique
The print was made using etching with aquatint, which allows for fine tonal gradations and soft transitions. The plate measures 21.5 x 15 cm, the sheet 29.4 x 20.9 cm. Aquatint creates the grey areas, while etched lines define the contours and details of the figures.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)