Francisco de Goya, Se Repulen, Plate 51, Los Caprichos, c1900

Se Repulen
Authentic Calcografía Nacional impression of Goya’s Ensayos (Trials), a haunting satire of superstition and cruelty. Etching c. 1878–1900.
Etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin
Posthumous Calcografía Nacional edition, Madrid, c. 1878–1900 - from Goya’s original copper plate.

Aquatint: The grainy tone has been achieved using a powdered rosin (called aquatint) applied in a fine layer on selected areas of the metal etching plate. The plate is immersed in acid, which bites around the rosin to create a roughened surface. Goya’s use of aquatint is considered the most accomplished by any historical artist.

A grotesque parody of refinement, Se repulen shows witches grooming one another before taking flight a scene of absurd vanity amid corruption. Goya’s satire cuts deep: his creatures preen and polish while moral decay festers, a mirror of society’s obsession with appearance over virtue. Printed c. 1878–1900 by the Calcografía Nacional from Goya’s original copper plate, this authentic restrike retains the eerie bite and elegance that made Los Caprichos a cornerstone of modern social critique.

Goya commented:
"This business of having long nails is so pernicious that it is forbidden even in witchcraft." Goya mocks the notion that ghouls are concerned with their personal appearances. At least one contemporary commentator associated long nails with public theft and corruption. One might therefore read this image as a condemnation of the officials who aid and abet each other in embezzling the wealth of the state, while seeking to maintain social respectability.  (reference Miguel Orozco 2021)

Historical Context
Se Repulen belongs to Goya’s 1799 series Los Caprichos, his Enlightenment-era critique of superstition, greed, and moral decay. Printed here from the original copper plate by the Calcografía Nacional around 1900, this impression preserves the bold linework and haunting tonal contrasts that made Caprichos a turning point in the history of satire.

Collector’s Note

• Edition: Late 19th-century Calcografía Nacional restrike from Goya’s original plate.

• Paper: Wove ivory stock without watermark.

• Rarity: Later impressions from this edition remain desirable for their authentic connection to Goya’s plates and their strong visual impact.