Disparate allegre (Merry Folly)

Disparate allegre (Merry Folly) by Francisco Goya, executed circa 1816, stands as a haunting and darkly humorous example of the Spanish master’s late graphic output. This exceptional print, classified within the 1801 to 1825 period, captures the artist’s mature shift towards allegorical commentary found in his final major series, Los Disparates (also known as the Proverbios).

The work utilizes a complex and sophisticated blend of etching, burnished aquatint, and drypoint. Goya expertly manipulated the acid-biting process to achieve the dramatic contrasts and deep, velvety blacks characteristic of the series, essential for depicting the unsettling atmosphere implied by the concept of "Merry Folly." The burnished aquatint, specifically, allowed the artist to create subtle transitions in tone and highlight key areas, drawing the viewer's eye across the unsettling arrangement of figures engaged in a chaotic, perhaps grotesque, celebration.

Although Goya conceived of the image around 1816, this specific example is designated as a trial proof, printed posthumously between 1854 and 1863. This subsequent printing confirms the enduring legacy and technical excellence of the original copper plate. As a pivotal figure in Spanish Romanticism, Goya used his prints not merely to record events, but to explore the absurdities and deep-seated fears of humanity, often bordering on the surreal. The composition challenges the viewer to decipher the moral or political failures hidden within the image, reflecting the social anxieties prevalent during the period. This historically important work, representing the zenith of Goya’s printmaking innovation, is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Fine prints based on the original masterwork are sometimes made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread appreciation of this crucial Spanish artwork.