Los Caprichos

Art Historical Context

Francisco Goya's *Los Caprichos*, created between 1797 and 1799 and in 1799, stands as a bold masterpiece of printmaking from the Art Institute of Chicago Prints and Drawings collection. This complete set comprises 80 etchings on ivory laid paper elegantly bound in hard green covers with "Goya"azoned in red and on the spine. Measuring 30.5 × 20.8 cm, the volume captures Goya's transition from court painter to visionary critic during Spain's late Enlightenment era, a time of social upheaval and intellectual ferment. Renowned for their biting satire, the *Caprichos* etchings expose the follies of Spanish society—from superstition and clerical corruption to aristocratic decadence and human folly. Goya's innovative etching technique, blending fine lines with aquatint tones (though primarily classified as etching here), allowed for dramatic contrasts and nightmarish visions that influenced Romanticism and modern art. Self-published after initial censorship fears, the series was withdrawn from sale within days, underscoring its provocative power. Today, this bound edition offers visitors a rare glimpse into Goya's genius, inviting reflection on timeless vices through his unflinching gaze. A cornerstone of graphic art, *Los Caprichos* remains a testament to the artist's role as society's unflattering mirror.

About the Artist

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes · 1746–1828

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was born on March 30, 1746, in the small Aragonese village of Fuendetodos, Spain, to José Benito de Goya, a master gilder, and Gracia de Lucientes. The fourth of six children in a modest lower-middle-class family, Goya received a basic education before beginning his artistic training at age 14 under the local painter José Luzán y Martínez in Zaragoza, where he sp...