Francisco de Goya, Los Caprichos, Ensayos - (6th edition Plate 60) (1878–1900)
Goya, Spain’s greatest Romantic printmaker, infused Los Caprichos (1799) with biting satire and haunting allegory.
This print is from Goya’s original copper plates. Etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin. Published by Calcografía Nacional, Madrid, the Spanish national archive and cultural institution, part of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, established in 1789 to conserve the legacy of Spanish graphic art.
In 1803 Goya donated the complete original copper plates to the King of Spain, who then entrusted them to the Calcografía Nacional. This print is from one of their last runs in circa 1900.
Grotesque witches huddle over a potion in one of Goya’s most satirical exposures of superstition, mocking irrational beliefs in Enlightenment Spain.
Even in its later impressions, Ensayos retains its satirical bite. The witches’ “experiments” parody not only superstition but also Spain’s broader “trials” in reconciling reason and tradition. Around 1900, when these prints were issued, Spain itself was undergoing national crises (the loss of its colonies in 1898, debates over modernization), giving the imagery renewed contemporary resonance.
Dimensions 8 3/4” x 12 1/2”
Excellent Condition - well inked with margin. Excellent coloring.
Collector’s note - While not as scarce as the 1799 edition, the c. 1878–1900 Calcografía impressions remain highly collectible. They represent the closest connection to Goya’s original work, widely sought by collectors for both their historical importance and their affordability compared to first editions.
Goya, Spain’s greatest Romantic printmaker, infused Los Caprichos (1799) with biting satire and haunting allegory.
This print is from Goya’s original copper plates. Etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin. Published by Calcografía Nacional, Madrid, the Spanish national archive and cultural institution, part of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, established in 1789 to conserve the legacy of Spanish graphic art.
In 1803 Goya donated the complete original copper plates to the King of Spain, who then entrusted them to the Calcografía Nacional. This print is from one of their last runs in circa 1900.
Grotesque witches huddle over a potion in one of Goya’s most satirical exposures of superstition, mocking irrational beliefs in Enlightenment Spain.
Even in its later impressions, Ensayos retains its satirical bite. The witches’ “experiments” parody not only superstition but also Spain’s broader “trials” in reconciling reason and tradition. Around 1900, when these prints were issued, Spain itself was undergoing national crises (the loss of its colonies in 1898, debates over modernization), giving the imagery renewed contemporary resonance.
Dimensions 8 3/4” x 12 1/2”
Excellent Condition - well inked with margin. Excellent coloring.
Collector’s note - While not as scarce as the 1799 edition, the c. 1878–1900 Calcografía impressions remain highly collectible. They represent the closest connection to Goya’s original work, widely sought by collectors for both their historical importance and their affordability compared to first editions.