Feminine Folly, from "The Disparates" (Follies / Irrationalities)
Original title: Feminine Folly, from "The Disparates" (Follies / Irrationalities)
kurzbeschreibung
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes made the etching 'Weibliche Torheit' (Female Folly) around 1815–19, though it was not published until 1864. It shows a group of women struggling with a large cloth. The print belongs to the series 'Die Disparates' (The Follies) and combines drypoint with aquatint.
Description
A horizontal format directs the eye to several women in noble, historical dress with long sleeves and bows, working together to move a heavy cloth. A child leaps through the air, injecting motion into the action. The background remains dark and barren, making the figures stand out clearly. Black and white dominate the imagery; light is evenly distributed, leaving few shadows. The style appears realistic, yet dramatic accents add their own emphasis.
Context
The 'Disparates' were created between 1815 and 1819, a time of political restoration in Spain after the Napoleonic Wars. Only in 1864, long after Goya's death, did the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando publish the series—one reason it is less familiar than other graphic works by the artist. The prints combine satire with often enigmatic imagery that targets human folly and irrationality. Goya was working without public commissions at the time and experimented with printmaking techniques.
Impact
The spectacle of the women tugging in vain at the cloth appears puzzling and at the same time oppressive. The dark, barren setting makes the action seem isolated and pointless. Realistic details meet unreal dynamism—this creates a disturbing, almost surreal atmosphere.
Technique
Etching with aquatint and drypoint on paper. Aquatint allows fine tonal gradations, while drypoint produces soft, velvety lines. The plate measures 24.5 × 35.3 cm, the sheet 33.4 × 48.2 cm. Goya used these techniques to render both delicate details and deep shadows.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)