Por que fue sensible (Because She Was Susceptible)

Por que fue sensible (Because She Was Susceptible) by Francisco Goya is a masterful example of the artist’s profound graphic commentary on human folly and social corruption. Executed in 1799, this significant Spanish work employs the complex technical skill required for lift-ground aquatint combined with standard aquatint on laid paper. This medium classification, prints, allowed Goya to disseminate his satirical critiques widely to an audience already aware of his shifting perspective on society and the Bourbon court.

The work belongs to a crucial artistic moment in Spain, spanning the years 1776 to 1800, when Goya transitioned from celebrated court painter to incisive social observer. The title itself suggests a theme common in Goya’s graphic works: a satirical critique regarding emotional fragility, ignorance, or moral weakness within contemporary society during the late Enlightenment. His specialized employment of aquatint allows for exceptionally nuanced tonal variations, creating the dramatic chiaroscuro effects and deep shadows necessary for this type of dark, narrative imagery. Through these sophisticated techniques, Goya transforms the subject matter from simple illustration into a complex psychological portrait.

As a leading figure of the era, Goya frequently ensured the wide circulation of his revolutionary ideas through reproducible prints. This particular impression of the work, Por que fue sensible, is an essential component of the artist’s graphic output. The enduring historical importance of these original prints is recognized globally, and today, high-resolution digital versions of many such significant historical works are often made available through public domain initiatives by major international institutions. This exemplary piece is preserved within the esteemed permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.