Los proverbios

prints by Goya y Lucientes

Also known as: “Los disparates”

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July 13, 2026

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Francisco de Goya, a renowned Spanish artist, created four major print series. Among these are Los caprichos (1799), a collection of 80 prints commenting on various aspects of life, and Los disparates (c. 1816–24), also known as Proverbios, which features 22 prints offering a biting, often humorous, interpretation of human folly. Goya masterfully combined line etching with aquatint, a technique he employed with unparalleled skill to create dramatic and visually striking works. His prints are celebrated for their powerful social commentary on human folly, war, and religious persecution.1

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Francisco Goya
The Napoleonic invasion and period after the restoration
…Quinta del Sordo (1820–23) and Los proverbios or Los disparates, a series of etchings made at about the same time (though not published until 1864), are, on the other hand, nightmare visions in expressionist language that seem to reflect cynicism, pessimism, and despair.
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…Quinta del Sordo (1820–23) and Los proverbios or Los disparates, a series of etchings made at about the same time (though not published until 1864), are, on the other hand, nightmare visions in expressionist language that seem to reflect cynicism, pessimism, and despair.
Read More