Mar 9, 2007

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off

Los Caprichos

When Day Breaks We Will Be Off

1793–98

Francisco de Goya

(Spanish, 1746–1828)

Etching and aquatint

Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1956.274

Catalogue raisonné: Harris 106, 1st. edition, 1799; Perez Sanchez and Gallego p. 77 no. 71

Location

Did you know?

Francisco de Goya gave each of the prints in Los Caprichos, including this one, intentionally cryptic titles.

Description

Francisco de Goya used printmaking to explore subjects that stirred controversy when represented in more public media, such as oil painting. This print belongs to Los Caprichos, a series of enigmatic images that critique the hypocrisy and irrationality the artist observed throughout contemporary Spanish society. Here, a group of witches prepares to fly without broomsticks or sight, suggesting ignorance and obliviousness. The dense and starry sky behind them was created using layers of aquatint—a technique that Goya was among the earliest and most expert artists to adopt.

See also
Collection: 
PR - Etching
Department: 
Prints
Type of artwork: 
Print

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.