The artwork titled “They Pare” is an etching on paper by the esteemed artist Francisco Goya, created in the year 1799. It is a part of the “Los caprichos” series and is classified within the Romanticism art movement. This particular piece has dimensions of 21.5 cm in height and 15.5 cm in width and belongs to the caricature genre. Currently, it resides within a private collection.
In the artwork, there is a stark and somewhat unsettling depiction of three figures, which Goya has rendered with characteristic depth and intensity. Two of these figures appear to be engaged in an act where one is paring the nails or performing a similar grooming ritual on the face of the other, who reclines passively. Their expressions are contorted, giving them a grotesque and eerie appearance that belies the seemingly mundane activity they are engaged in. The third figure lurks in the background, observing or waiting, with a similarly ghastly expression. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, highlighting the textures and expressions within the scene, which serves as a satirical commentary on contemporary social customs or vices, as was typical for the works in the “Los caprichos” series. The inscription at the bottom, which is not fully legible in this description, often plays a critical role in illuminating Goya’s intended message or critique within the broader context of his work.
