Plate 78 from "Los Caprichos": Be quick, they are waking up (Despacha, que dispiertan)
Original title: Plate 78 from "Los Caprichos": Be quick, they are waking up (Despacha, que dispiertan)
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya created the etching "Hurry, They Are Waking Up" (Despacha, que dispiertan) between 1881 and 1886 as part of his series "Los Caprichos." Two figures appear in a dark setting: a standing person with a broom and a seated, exhausted figure at a table. The technique combines etching with burnished aquatint.
Description
In the foreground, an upright figure stands with a broom in hand, his face serious and almost threatening. Across from him, a weary-looking person wearing a light-colored head covering sits at a table; on the tabletop, a plate and possibly a book or scroll can be made out. The table separates the two, emphasizing their distance. Shades of gray and diffuse light create a gloomy, menacing mood. Fine shading gives the image spatial depth.
Context
The series "Los Caprichos" was created between 1797 and 1799; this edition, however, was printed in 1881–86. The prints in the series criticize social ills, superstition, and human weaknesses. The exact meaning of print 78 is not clearly documented, but it is often interpreted as a comment on stupidity or social oppression. In 1799, the series was withdrawn from the market after only a few days, probably because of its sharp satire.
Impact
The scene feels oppressive and unsettling because the standing figure seems to radiate an immediate threat. The subdued palette and eerie stillness create a tension that disorients the viewer. The combination of realism and surreal-seeming elements heightens the disturbing effect.
Technique
As an etching with burnished aquatint, the print allows for fine tonal gradations and soft shadows. The aquatint was burnished in places to achieve darker areas. It was printed on paper; the plate measures 21.8 × 15.1 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)