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Francisco de Goya (Spanish, 1746–1828).

Devota Profesion [Devout Profession]

1799/1868. Etching, aquatint and drypoint, signed in plate lower left, numbered “70” and titled in plate above and below image, erased title in pencil in lower margin, 20.8 x 16.6cm. Slight foxing.

This etching is from a small edition of Los Caprichos, meaning “the follies” or “the caprices” and was printed in 1868 at the Calcografia Nacional in Madrid, Spain. It is from the 3rd edition before the bevelling of the plate, which appears in the 4th edition. Ref: Harris #105.

Throughout this series of 80 images first published in 1797, Goya provides political commentary and references to witchcraft, accompanied by strange and disturbing imagery. This image had the following commentary: “Will you swear to obey and respect your masters and superiors, to sweep the garrets, to spin tow, to ring bells, to howl, to yell, to fly, to cook, to grease, to suck, to back, to blow, to fry, everything whatever time you are ordered to?” “I swear.” “Well then, my girl, you are now a witch. Congratulations.”

Los Caprichos was withdrawn from public sale shortly after its release in 1799; only 27 copies of the set had been purchased at that time. In 1803, Goya gave the copper plates and the first edition’s unsold sets to King Charles IV in return for a pension for his son. Later in life, Goya wrote that he had felt it prudent to withdraw the prints from circulation due to the Inquisition. Ref: University of Michigan Museum of Art; Wiki.

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Item #CL202-3

Price (AUD): $2,950.00  other currencies