Asta su abuelo (And So Was His Grandfather)
published 1799
Medium
lift-ground aquatint and aquatint on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 21.4 × 15 cm (8 7/16 × 5 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.4711.mm
Art Historical Context
Francisco Goya's *Asta su abuelo (And So Was His Grandfather)* published in 1799 is a striking print from the Spanish master's renowned series *Los Caprichos*. satirical work critiques the persistence of ignorance and superstition across generations, with its title wryly implying that folly is inherited like family traits. Created during a turbulent era in late 18th-century Spain—marked by Enlightenment ideals clashing with entrenched traditions—Goya used his art to expose societal vices, blending dark humor with profound social commentary. The medium, lift-ground aquatint combined with aquat...
About the Artist
Francisco Goya
Francisco Goya, born on March 30, 1746, in the small Aragonese village of Fuendetodos, Spain, to a gilder father and a mother from a family claiming minor nobility, displayed artistic promise early. At age 14, he apprenticed under painter José Luzán y Martínez in Zaragoza, honing his skills by copying prints before working independently. After unsuccessful attempts to enter Madrid's Real Academia ...