Fuerte cosa es! (That's Tough!)

The influential Spanish master Francisco Goya is credited with the print Fuerte cosa es! (That's Tough!), a complex work created using etching, burnished aquatint, and drypoint techniques. This specific impression is dated 1863. The combination of these intaglio methods allowed for deep tonal ranges and dramatic contrasts, which are characteristic of Goya’s prolific graphic output.

Although the artist died decades earlier, the execution of this particular impression falls within the 1851 to 1875 period, highlighting the ongoing impact and posthumous dissemination of Goya's provocative imagery. As a key figure in Spanish culture, Goya utilized the classification of prints to explore challenging moral and psychological subjects, often depicting scenes that verge on the fantastic or the grotesque.

The profound title, translating to “That’s Tough!”, suggests a reaction to significant burden, struggle, or the absurdity of human experience. Works like Fuerte cosa es! embody Goya’s late, often enigmatic style, which moved beyond traditional narrative into sharp satire. These powerful graphic works remain essential resources for understanding the volatile socio-political landscape of the nineteenth century and the enduring legacy of Spanish visual commentary.

The piece is now preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, ensuring its accessibility for study by scholars and the public. Due to the antiquity of the artwork and its publication history, high-quality images of this masterful Goya work are often found available in the public domain, allowing global appreciation for prints dating to the 1851 to 1875 era.