Nadie nos ha visto (No One Has Seen Us)

Nadie nos ha visto (No One Has Seen Us) is a powerful print created by Francisco Goya in 1799. Executed using the sophisticated printmaking combination of etching, burnished aquatint, and burin on laid paper, the work exemplifies Goya's technical mastery during the Spanish Enlightenment. This expressive piece belongs to the critical period of 1776 to 1800, during which Goya moved away from traditional court commissions toward biting social and political commentary.

The work is widely recognized as plate 40 from the seminal series of eighty prints titled Los Caprichos (The Caprices), published by Goya that same year. In this influential series, Goya employs visual satire to critique the social abuses, superstitions, and political corruption prevalent in late 18th-century Spanish society. The technical use of aquatint, crucial here, allows for rich, velvety tonal areas and deep shadows. Goya utilizes these contrasts to amplify the sense of darkness and moral obscurity suggested by the title, highlighting figures engaging in secretive and ambiguous activities.

Goya’s genius lay in his ability to infuse technical brilliance with profound psychological and social insight. The deep chiaroscuro achieved in this piece transforms what might otherwise be a simple scene into a powerful indictment of human folly and hidden vices. As one of the most historically important series of prints in art history, Los Caprichos profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists who sought to use art for pointed social critique.

This impression of the work is preserved in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Goya’s profound impact, achieved through prints like this, ensures that these revolutionary Spanish images remain central to the study of the period. Since the original 1799 printing, many impressions have entered the public domain, allowing wide academic access to this critical masterwork.