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What social and political problems did Francisco Goya criticize in Los caprichos?

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Francisco Goya: Self-portrait — Francisco Goya Detail of *Self-portrait*, etching by Francisco Goya from the series *Los caprichos*, 1799.

In his series of 80 etchings titled Los caprichos, published in 1799, Francisco Goya utilized the medium of caricature to launch a scathing critique of the political, social, and religious abuses prevalent in Spanish society at the time.1

While Goya publicly announced that the themes of the series were derived from the "extravagances and follies common to all society," the works were widely interpreted as pointed references to well-known contemporary figures. This critical examination of his environment was facilitated by his masterful use of aquatint, which provided the etchings with dramatic vitality.1

The nature of these satires was sufficiently provocative that the series was withdrawn from sale after only a few days, and Goya was later reportedly threatened by the Inquisition for his work. By 1803, he ultimately surrendered the plates to the king in exchange for a pension for his son.1