Francisco de Goya

This series, called Los Caprichos (The Caprices), marks Francisco de Goya’s first experimentation with the medium of etching. Envisioned as a form of social commentary, Goya described the themes in this series as sourced “From the multitude of follies and blunders common in every civil society, as well as from the vulgar prejudices and lies authorized by custom, ignorance or interest.” Divided into two sections, the first forty plates depict societal ills in a straightforward manner while the second forty present fantastic imagery. The evils of the world become nightmarish, morphed into creatures of the night—witches and goblins—all the while signaling Goya’s pointed satirical commentary.