The artwork “One to anothers” by Francisco Goya, created in 1799, exemplifies the Romanticism art movement through its use of drypoint and etching on paper. The piece measures 21.8 x 15.2 cm and falls within the caricature genre, forming part of Goya’s renowned series “Los caprichos.” This particular artwork is held in a private collection.
In the artwork, viewers are presented with a group of grotesque figures, a common theme in Goya’s “Los caprichos” series which often satirizes human follies and vices. In the center stands a figure with an exaggeratedly smiling or grinning face that closely resembles a skull, bearing a striking and unsettling resemblance to a living corpse, which was an image often employed by Goya to convey mortality and the follies of human nature. Surrounding this figure are three other individuals who are interacting with them, some displaying similarly ghastly features, engaging in a scene that could be interpreted as a macabre dance or procession.
One of the figures appears to be reading a document, possibly a critique or commentary, which further supports the interpretation that the artwork serves as a social satire. Goya’s technique adds to the dramatic effect, with strong contrasts and fine details that invite the viewer to contemplate the deeper meanings behind the caricatures. The overall atmosphere of the scene is dark and foreboding, in line with the Romantic fascination with the darker aspects of the human psyche and society.
