Plate 77 from "Los Caprichos": What one does to another (Unos á otros)
Original title: Plate 77 from "Los Caprichos": What one does to another (Unos á otros)
kurzbeschreibung
A sheet of paper, a stick, two human faces: Francisco de Goya's etching "Unos á otros" (plate 77 from "Los Caprichos", 1799) presents a physical altercation. The work is executed as an etching with aquatint, drypoint, and burin on paper.
Description
In the foreground, two figures with human features are fighting: one holds a sheet of paper, the other swings a stick. Three more figures stand behind them, partly in shadow, watching the action. Strong, animated lines and expressive contours drive the scene forward. The light comes diffusely from above, clearly defining the shadows and outlines of the bodies.
Context
In 1799, the etching appeared within the series "Los Caprichos", which casts a bitingly satirical eye on social ills and human follies. Goya worked on it during an era of profound political and social change in Spain. Within the series, this plate is one of the later numbers and focuses on violence and oppression in human interaction.
Impact
The crowded arrangement and the violent linework make the action seem immediate and threatening. Harsh contrasts of light and dark and the agitated postures create an oppressive mood that draws the viewer into the quarrel.
Technique
Etching, burnished aquatint, drypoint, and burin were used. Aquatint provides delicate gradations of gray, while drypoint and burin create sharp lines and hatching. Together they allow a nuanced rendering of light and shadow.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)