The artwork titled “Nothing. The event will tell” is a creation by the acclaimed artist Francisco Goya, produced during the years 1815 to 1820. The medium of this artwork is a combination of aquatint and etching on paper, and it measures 15.5 x 20 cm. It falls under the Romanticism movement and is classified as a caricature.
In the artwork, one observes a grim and chaotic scene depicted with vigorous etching lines, imbuing the piece with a sense of urgent movement and unsettling emotion. The central figure is lying down, apparently lifeless, with what seems to be a document or sheet of paper partially covering the body. This mysterious document bares the inscription “Nada. Ello dira” suggesting a message or an omen. Surrounding this figure is a group of onlookers, their faces etched in varying expressions of horror, curiosity, and bewilderment, as they peer down at the body. The composition is dark and shadowy, conveying a sense of foreboding and despair that is often associated with Goya’s more somber works. The intense emotionality and social commentary embedded within this piece are reflective of Goya’s critical gaze upon society and the human condition, characteristic of not just Romanticism but also his personal artistic evolution during the latter part of his career.
