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Francisco de Goya (1746-1828). Spanish painter and printmake
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Francisco de Goya (1746-1828). Spanish painter and printmake
Francisco de Goya (1746-1828). Spanish painter and printmaker. Los Caprichos. Aquellos Polvos. Aquatint n 23 published in 1799
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Aquatint Ashamed Capricho Caprichos Condemned Convict Criticism Ecclesiastic Francisco Goya Hood Inquisition Joke Read Secretary Sentence Shame
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Francisco de Goya's (1746-1828) print "Capricho 23: Aquellos Polvos" (1799) is a powerful and thought-provoking work from the Spanish artist's groundbreaking series "Los Caprichos." This aquatint print, numbered 23 in the collection, depicts a hooded figure, seated and ashamed, as he is read his sentence by an ecclesiastic and a court official. The condemned man, dressed in a sanbenito, a penitential robe, clutches a book in his hands, suggesting that he may have been a scholar or intellectual. The crowd, made up of various characters from Spanish society, looks on with a mixture of amusement and condemnation. Goya's use of the aquatint technique, which involved applying powdered pigment to a copper plate and then etching it with acid, allowed for a rich, tonal depth and intricacy in the print. The image is filled with symbolism and social commentary, reflecting the artist's contemporary concerns with the inquisition, religious hypocrisy, and the power dynamics of Spanish society during the late 18th century. The title "Aquellos Polvos," which translates to "those ashes," may refer to the ashes of the condemned man, or to the ashes of the past that continue to shape the present. The print invites the viewer to consider the role of shame and condemnation in society, and the ways in which power and authority can be used to control and manipulate individuals. Goya's "Los Caprichos" series, which includes 82 prints, is considered a seminal work in the history of Spanish art and a precursor to the Romantic movement. The prints continue to be studied and admired for their innovative technique, social commentary, and enduring relevance to contemporary issues.
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