Plate 60 from "Los Caprichos": Trials (Ensayos)
Original title: Pllate 60 from "Los Caprichos": Trials (Ensayos)
kurzbeschreibung
This is the sixtieth plate from Francisco de Goya's print series Los Caprichos, made in 1799. The etching with aquatint and burin shows an allegorical scene: a figure rides on a person lying on the ground, with a cat and a skull nearby. The subject satirically lashes out at human foolishness and social ills.
Description
A figure swings over someone stretched out on the ground and subdues him with a threatening gesture. A cat-like creature crouches to one side, and a skull lies in the foreground. The background remains dark and undefined, so the action feels isolated and eerie. Strong hatching and deep shadows model the bodies and heighten the drama. At the bottom of the image, the title 'Ensayos' is inscribed.
Context
In 1799 Goya published the series Los Caprichos, attacking the superstition, stupidity, and social abuses of his era. Plate 60 belongs to the later works in the set, which increasingly engage with human vices in a dark and pessimistic way. With aquatint Goya created soft tonal transitions, intensifying the ghostly atmosphere.
Impact
The dark, purely black-and-white image creates an oppressive mood and immediately grips the viewer. The exaggerated scene of violence reads as a satirical indictment of oppression and human abysses. The concision of the motif and the symbolic visual language make this plate a compelling testament to the Caprichos.
Technique
Etching with aquatint and burin, executed on a copper plate. Aquatint allows fine tonal gradations and rich shadows, while the burin adds delicate lines for details. Printed on paper, the result is clear and high in contrast.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)