No se puede mirar (One Can't Look)

No se puede mirar (One Can't Look) is a powerful print by the influential Spanish master Francisco Goya. Although Goya created the original plates years before his death in 1828, this specific impression was printed in 1863, placing its official publication firmly within the 1851 to 1875 period. The artwork showcases the artist’s inventive approach to graphic media, utilizing a complex combination of techniques including etching, burnished lavis, drypoint, and burin. This sophisticated method allows for rich tonal contrasts and dramatic intensity, characteristic of the psychological depth Goya explored in his late output.

The print belongs to a posthumous edition of the artist’s most unsettling works, a series of dark and often enigmatic compositions that delve into irrationality, superstition, and social hypocrisy. The title itself, "One Can't Look," suggests an image of such horrific or disturbing content that the viewer is compelled to avert their gaze, reflecting the deep disillusionment and dark commentary prevalent in the Romantic era. Unlike his earlier official court paintings, this work prioritizes macabre fantasy over classical realism. Goya uses dense shadow and blurred forms, often associated with his late graphic experiments, to maximize the sense of chaos and psychological terror.

The continued publishing and appreciation of these dark compositions decades after the artist’s death confirms the lasting cultural significance of Goya's masterful prints. This specific impression of No se puede mirar is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art. As a major work by the Spanish printmaker, the continued circulation of these powerful images ensures that the visual impact of Goya’s final years remains accessible. Due to the age of the original plates, versions of this important artwork are frequently found within the public domain, allowing wide access to his genius.