The artwork titled “Why hide them?” is a creation by the renowned artist Francisco Goya, dating back to the year 1799. This piece is crafted using the mediums of drypoint and etching on paper, indicative of the intricate and labor-intensive process typical of printmaking techniques of the time. The artwork is a part of the “Los Caprichos” series and embodies the Romanticism art movement, a period characterized by a focus on emotion, individualism, and the sublime. With dimensions of 21.8 x 15.7 cm, this caricature is a part of a private collection, emphasizing that the artwork is not on public display but rather under the possession of an individual or a private entity.
The artwork presents a scene with exaggerated and somewhat grotesque characters, in line with the caricature genre. We see several figures, with prominent and expressive facial features, seemingly gathered around or looking at an elderly figure seated in the foreground, who appears to be distraught or perhaps focused on something in their hands. The characters display a variety of expressions, ranging from mocking smiles to bemused observations, suggesting a social commentary undertone that Goya was known for in his “Los Caprichos” series. The line work adds depth to the characters’ clothes and features, contributing to a vivid texture and sense of dimensionality within the piece. The caption “¿Por qué esconderlos?” translates to “Why hide them?” in English, further emphasizing the critical or satirical message Goya intended to convey about the society of his time.
