Francesco Goya y Lucientes, Pintor (Francesco Goya y Lucientes, Painter)

Francesco Goya y Lucientes, Pintor (Francesco Goya y Lucientes, Painter) is a significant print created by Francisco Goya in 1799. This self-portrait utilizes a highly complex combination of printmaking techniques: etching, aquatint, drypoint, and burin, all executed on laid paper. Created during a pivotal period of artistic and social upheaval, this masterful example of Spanish graphic art was finalized at the very end of the eighteenth century, placing it squarely within the 1776 to 1800 period.

Goya presents himself in the role of the intense working artist, seen here in profile and surrounded by deep, enveloping shadows. The detailed precision achieved through drypoint and burin contrasts sharply with the broader, atmospheric tonal effects rendered by the aquatint technique. Goya’s command of the medium allows him to evoke dramatic focus and concentrated illumination, giving the portrait a psychological intensity that would define his subsequent career. This piece often served as the frontispiece for his famed series, Los Caprichos (The Caprices), signaling to the public the arrival of the sharp social critic.

Produced late in the century, this specific print is a crucial document of the artistic shifts occurring within Spanish culture as Enlightenment ideals began challenging traditional structures. As a key example of Goya’s transition toward graphic satire and observational art during the 1776 to 1800 timeframe, the work demonstrates the power of the printed image. Many works by this Spanish master, including various impressions of his acclaimed prints, are widely studied today, with several available within the public domain. This particular impression of Francesco Goya y Lucientes, Pintor is housed within the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art.