La lealtad (Loyalty)

The print La lealtad (Loyalty) by Francisco Goya, executed around 1816, is a powerful example of the artist's late engagement with allegory and political commentary during the volatile Spanish period spanning 1801 to 1825. This work is primarily an etching, deepened by the subtle tonal variations achieved through burnished aquatint. Although the original plate was designed and etched by Goya himself in the mid-1810s, this specific impression is a trial proof, pulled posthumously approximately between 1854 and 1863, highlighting the sustained interest in Goya’s graphic output long after his death.

Goya, a master of graphic arts, utilized the challenging aquatint process to achieve rich, atmospheric shadows and dramatic contrast, techniques characteristic of his most famous series of prints, such as Los Desastres de la Guerra. As a leading Spanish artist grappling with the aftermath of the Peninsular War and the return of Ferdinand VII, his print cycles often served as biting commentary on social injustice, superstition, and political corruption. While specific details of the scene in La lealtad are interpreted variously by scholars, the allegorical title strongly suggests a meditation on virtuous adherence to principle or state, a theme highly relevant to the deeply fractured Spanish society of the time.

This exceptional impression is classified as a rare print, demonstrating the technical evolution of graphic arts in the 19th century. The work resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., and is frequently referenced in studies of the artist’s graphic oeuvre. As an important piece from the NGA's significant Spanish collection, this influential work contributes substantially to global art history resources and is generally considered to be in the public domain.