Title page for "Los Proverbios" (Disparates)
Original title: Title page for "Los Proverbios" (Disparates)
kurzbeschreibung
Title page for the print series 'Los Proverbios' (also known as 'Disparates') by Francisco Goya y Lucientes, issued in Madrid in 1864. A lithographic offset print that presents the typographic layout of the series.
Description
The title 'Los Proverbios' appears in elegant lettering with ornamental flourishes. A brief accompanying text below mentions a collection of ten and eight plates etched with acid. The artist's name, Don Francisco Goya, is set in striking type. At the bottom, the seal of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando is inserted, testifying to the publication by this institution. Along the lower edge stands the year 1864.
Context
The 'Los Proverbios' were created between 1816 and 1823, but only in 1864 were they published posthumously by the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid. The edition comprised 360 copies, reflecting the delayed reception of Goya's late work. The series is regarded as a critical allegory of folly and social ills.
Impact
Clear typography and ornamental forms give the sheet a formal, dignified note. Lettering and seal together create an official impression that underscores the academic publication.
Technique
Printed lithographically in offset, it allowed reproduction with consistent quality. Lithography, invented around 1798, permitted fine line drawings, as used here for the typographic elements.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)