El sueño de la razón produce monstruos (The sleep of reason produces monsters)

Details

Delteil 80; Harris 78 III, 1st edition (of 12).

Descrizione

Sheet 43 from the series: Los Caprichos. A very fine, strong lifetime impression of the iconographic sheet, published in the first edition in Madrid, 1799. The light grey aquatint in the sky strongly drawing, only in the left margin with a small, minimally drier spot. The bright contrasts in the centre owl and in the man’s shoulder clear and pure. The lettering at the end of the desk is clear and distinct, as desired in early prints.
The present print takes us into the world of nightmares, wild animals and arid superstition, which Goya contrasts with the light of enlightenment and reason. In the battle between light and shadow, the latter has triumphed, the world ordered by reason has perished and is now inhabited by animals.
This is the only depiction from the series of 80 Engravings in total that does not have a caption at the bottom; instead, the inscription is engraved on the side of the desk. The Engraving was originally intended as the frontispiece of the series. However, the set published in 1799 was published with the artist’s self-portrait, depicted as a gentleman. The first edition was published in 275 to 300 copies. Just a few days after the publication of the “Caprichos”, Goya was accused by the Holy Inquisition and forced to stop selling his Engravings. It was not until October 1803, when the artist handed over the printing plates together with all unsold copies to the administration of the royal household of Carlos IV for a pension of 12,000 reales, that he escaped persecution.
Wide margins, with stitching holes and traces of glue from the binding at the left edge. – Isolated, faint brown spots, otherwise in good condition.
Very rare!