Artist: Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes, 1746-1828

Title: Los Caprichos: Que pico de oro

Date: 1799

Medium: Etching and burnished aquatint on wove paper

Description: Plate 53 from "Los Caprichos." With strong contrasts. Probably from a run for the Real Calcografia from 1905 and 1907. 'Los Caprichos' is a set of 80 prints in aquatint and etching created in 1797 - 1798, and published as a cohesive set in 1799. The prints were a condemnation of the universal follies and foolishness in the Spanish society in which he lived. Goya described the series as depicting “the innumerable foibles and follies to be found in any civilized society, and from the common prejudices and deceitful practices which custom, ignorance or self- interest have made usual.” Goya added brief explanations of each image to a manuscript, now in the Museo del Prado, which help greatly to explain his often cryptic intentions, as do the titles printed below each image.

Reference: Delteil 90; Harris 88 III 8

Dimensions: 13 x 9 3/4 in.

Inventory Number: 915314