No se convienen (They Do Not Agree)

No se convienen (They Do Not Agree) by Francisco Goya is a profound example of the artist's engagement with dark fantasy and social critique, presented through the demanding medium of printmaking. Executed primarily using etching, drypoint, burin, and burnisher, this piece showcases Goya’s late-career mastery of the intaglio process. While the foundational elements of the image were created by the artist prior to his death in 1828, the specific edition of this print dates to 1863, placing its release squarely within the Spanish period of 1851 to 1875. This posthumous publication allowed subsequent generations to access the often challenging and politically charged imagery Goya created in isolation toward the end of his life.

The subject matter, characteristic of Goya’s late series such as Los Disparates (The Follies), typically features ambiguous figures engaged in inexplicable, unsettling interactions. The title itself suggests a fundamental breakdown in harmony or logic, common themes in Goya's critique of societal folly. Goya utilizes the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, enhanced by the deep velvety blacks achievable with drypoint, to create a psychological atmosphere rather than a literal narrative. The technique of combining multiple print processes allowed the master printmaker to achieve textures and tonal ranges far beyond simple line etching, reflecting the complexities of the human condition he sought to capture.

As a crucial work representing the continuation of Goya’s influential legacy throughout the mid-19th century, this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work's inclusion in this major museum ensures its continued study and appreciation. Today, thanks to efforts to preserve cultural heritage, high-resolution images of Goya’s seminal No se convienen are frequently available to the public domain, ensuring students and collectors worldwide can study these historic Spanish prints from the period of 1851 to 1875.